Tampa – Late inning woes costs the Hatters on Tuesday night at USF as the Bulls scored five runs over the last two innings to take a 9-4 victory over Stetson at USF Stadium.
It was the first of three games between the teams this year. USF will visit Melching Field on April 11 and the Hatters will return to USF on April 26.
The Bulls (23-3) broke a 4-4 tie in the seventh inning when David Villar delivered a two-out single off Stetson reliever
Dean Garabedian (0-2) to score to score Joe Genord, who had been hit by a pitch, from second.
USF then blew the game open with a four-run outburst in the eighth inning.
Tyler Keller allowed Garrett Zech, the younger brother of former Hatter Kyle Zech, to reach on a one-out walk. He stole second and then scored on a single by Kevin Merrell, who led the Bulls with three hits.
Stetson (10-17) brought in freshman
Ryan Stark to pitch after Merrell was caught stealing for the second out. He surrendered a hustle double to Coco Montes and an intentional walk before Genord doubled in both runs. He then scored on a single by Duke Stunkel to account for the final run.
"It is the same old story," Hatters coach
Steve Trimper said. "We are just not getting the pitching we need late in games. These guys have got to find a way to get outs when they get a chance late in a game."
USF reliever Joe Cavallaro (2-0) struck out four in 2.1 innings of work to get the win.
The Hatters got on the board in the first inning after
Jacob Koos reached with a leadoff single, moved up on a ground ball and a passed ball and scored on a two-out single by
Jack Gonzalez.
Stetson added two more runs off USF starter D.J. Roberts in the third inning.
Andrew MacNeil led off the frame with a walk and Koos followed with a double into the leftfield corner. After an out,
Mike Spooner singled up the middle to plate the two runs for a 3-0 lead.
USF evened the game in the third, using four hits to chase Stetson starting pitcher
Joey Gonzalez. Chris Chatfield led off the inning with a double and, after a walk, Coco Montes, Luke Borders and Joe Genord delivered consecutive RBI singles through the right side of the infield.
Junior
Ben Onyshko came in in relief and got an inning-ending double play on the first pitch he threw.
The Bulls took their first lead of the game in the fourth inning. Andres Leal reached on a one out walk, moved up to third on a Chatfield single and then scored Kevin Merrell single.
Stetson tied the game in the seventh inning when Spooner came through again, delivering a two-out single off USF reliever Noah Yager to score Koos from second.
Koos led the Hatters in the game with four hits and scored three runs. Spponer had two hits and drove in three and
Jack Gonzalez had two hits.
Besides Merrell, the Bulls got two hits each from Montes, Stunkel, Villar and Chatfield.
Stetson will return home to Melching Field on Friday to open ASUN play against NJIT. Friday's game is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start with the game on Saturday set for 2 p.m. and Sunday's series finale scheduled for 1 p.m.
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.
