DeLand, Fla. - For the second consecutive game the Stetson baseball team took on the University of Georgia on Melching Field and for the second time the Hatters defended their turf, this time winning by a score of 7-2. Stetson is now 2-0 on the season while Georgia falls to 0-2.
The Hatters were very effective on the mound with five hurlers sharing the load. Stetson starting pitcher Will Dorsey (Atlantic Beach, Fla.) tossed six complete innings and picked up his first win in his first appearance. Dorsey allowed just one run on five hits.
"We call him [Dorsey] the magician, he's going to go out there and pitch backwards and throw his breaking ball and off speed stuff over and when people start leaning out looking for that stuff he can bust them inside with his fastball. That's the way he is going to pitch", said Stetson head coach Pete Dunn.
Jake Boyd (West Palm Beach, Fla.) threw the 7th inning giving up one run and picking up a strike out. Redshirt sophomore Joe Dye (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) and freshman Cameron Griffin (Naples, Fla.) combined to keep the Bulldogs scoreless and hitless in the 8th, and then closer Ben Carhart (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) finished the game striking out one batter.
"We have a great feeling from another well pitched game. We have been saying that this team will go as far as our pitching takes us. Pitching is what we need to have to compete for a championship. If these last two games are indicative of what we can be then I really like our chances", said Dunn.
Stetson jumped out to an early lead with three runs in the bottom the first inning. Spencer Theisen (Longwood, Fla.) and Mark Jones (Bunnell, Fla.) delivered back-to-back singles and then both runners advanced on a double steal. Jones moved up another base and Theisen scored on an RBI groundout by Carhart. Ryan Lashley (Lake Worth, Fla.) followed with a double that hit high off the wall in left field and scored Jones and then Lashley scored when Trey Blackman (Altamonte Springs, Fla.) singled up the middle.
The Hatters added single runs in the 2nd and 4th innings and then scored two more in the 7th to secure the win. It is the first time since 2005 that the Hatters have opened the season 2-0.
Jeff Simpson (Valrico, Fla.) who was 4-for-4 Friday night picked up two more hits on Saturday. Jones also had a pair of hits going 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Theisen, Carhart, Lashley, Blackman, and Sean Emory (Miami, Fla.) had the other runs batted in for the home team.
Johnathan Taylor (Acworth, Ga.) 2-for-4 was the only Bulldog with multiple hits. Starter Ben Cornwell surrendered four earned runs over three innings and took the loss for Georgia.
"We played an awfully good ball club. I love the way our guys are playing right now. They are playing with confidence", said Dunn "Offensively we are efficient, we have been finding a way to score runs".
Stetson and Georgia will face off one more time on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Stetson fans can see the game on Hatter Vision at GoHatters.com with Bill Topping calling the action. Tickets are available at the gate or can be purchased online at GoHatters.com or by calling 738-HATS.
