DeLand, Fla. - Lindsey Caughel (Orlando, Fla.) gave the Hatters another quality start on the mound and Mark Jones (Palm Coast, Fla.) ripped his third home run of the season to lead Stetson (22-19, 10-4 Atlantic Sun) to a 4-3 win over Lipscomb (14-27, 5-9) Saturday afternoon on Melching Field. The victory gives the Hatters a 2-0 lead on the weekend and ensures them their third conference series win of 2010.
Caughel tossed seven complete innings and allowed just two runs on five hits. He struck out seven and did not walk a batter. Caughel earned the win to raise his record to 4-3 overall. David Burns (Seminole, Fla.) threw 2/3 of an inning giving up one hit and Robbie Powell (Punta Gorda, Fla.) finished the game and surrendered one run on two hits en route to his 5th save of the season.
"Caughel stepped up and gave us seven very good innings, Burnsy came in and got a couple guys out, and then Powell came in and did his thing", said Stetson head coach Pete Dunn. "Our pitching staff did a good job out there today."
Jones and Sean Emory (Miami, Fla.) each had two hits for the Hatters who totaled eight in the game. Emory knocked in two and Jones added one RBI on his home run. Robert Crews (Port Charlotte, Fla.) scored three of Stetson's four runs after going 1-for-2 at the plate and twice getting hit by a pitch.
Stetson opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Crews was plunked, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kurt Schluter (Jupiter, Fla.), advanced to third on a ground out and eventually scored on a wild pitch.
Lipscomb jumped ahead with two runs in the top of the 5th before Stetson evened the score in the bottom half of the inning. Crews led off with a singled and then cruised into third after a Schluter double to left field. Emory followed with an RBI single through the right side.
Jones' solo shot in the 6th put the Hatters up by one and another Emory RBI plated Crews in the 7th with the game-winner.
The weekend series with Lipscomb will conclude Sunday at 11:00 a.m. Stetson fans can watch the game on Hatter Vision by going to www.gohatters.com. The voice of Stetson baseball Bill Topping will call the action.