Macon, Ga. - The Hatters improved to 19-15 overall and 7-2 in the Atlantic Sun with its second consecutive conference series sweep. Stetson took both ends of Saturday's double header 13-4 and 15-12 over Mercer (19-17, 5-7). The Hatters have now won seven A-Sun games in a row for the first time since the 2007 season in which they finished with 42 victories and a 21-6 mark in conference play.
Jeff Simpson (Valrico, Fla.) picked up three hits in the first game and two more in the second to extend his current hitting streak to 24 games. Mark Jones (Palm Coast, Fla.) and Robert Crews (Port Charlotte, Fla.) also totaled five hits each on the day. Jones had four hits and a pair of home runs in the second game, his first two of the year. Crews homered in each game to extend his team lead to eight in that category.
In the day's second game Stetson jumped out to an 8-0 lead and then increased it to 15-5 before surrendering seven runs in the bottom of the 8th inning and holding on for the 15-12 win. As a team the Hatters banged out a season-high 21 hits that featured four doubles and three home runs.
Jones was the hero from the box with a 4-for-5 effort that included four RBI and four runs scored to go along with his long balls. Spencer Theisen (Longwood, Fla.), Sean Emory (Miami, Fla.), and Simpson each added three hits for Stetson.
Stetson starter Kyle Maulbetsch (Jacksonville, Fla.) threw four innings and gave up five runs on eight hits. He was relieved by Kurt Schluter (Jupiter, Fla.) who pitched three solid innings before Mercer jumped on him for six runs in the 8th inning. He did not walk a batter, struck out five and picked up the win to improve to 2-2 on the season. David Burns (Seminole, Fla.) threw one inning before Robbie Powell (Punta Gorda, Fla.) entered and closed the door.
The first game of the afternoon was all Hatters. After falling behind by a run Stetson left no doubt as to the final result with five runs in the 2nd inning and five more in the 3rd. The big blow was a grand slam in the 3rd by Ryan Lashley (Lake Worth, Fla.). With two outs Simpson singled to center field and then advanced to third on a single to right by Emory. Jones followed with a walk and then Crittenden picked up an RBI with his back-to-back base on balls. With the bases and the count full Lashley jumped on a fastball and ripped it over the left field wall to give the Hatters a 10-1 lead.
Stetson added a pair of runs in the top of the 8th on a two-RBI double to left center by Nick Rickles (Loxahatchee, Fla.), and then topped off the scoring with a Crews solo blast to left in the 9th.
Sophomore Lindsey Caughel (Orlando, Fla.) tossed Stetson's first complete game of the season. He allowed four runs and six hits while striking out five batters and walking none. Caughel improved to 3-2 after his seventh start of the season.
Next up for the Hatters is a road game at UCF on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on Bright House Sports Network. Stetson fans can also listen to the game on Hatter Vision by going to www.gohatters.com. The voice of Stetson baseball Bill Topping will call the action.
