Tallahassee, Fla. – Stetson pitchers came into Wednesday's game at Florida State having allowed just nine home runs all season. With the wind blowing out and a short right field at Dick Howser Stadium, the Seminoles almost doubled that total, blasting seven in a 18-10 victory, sweeping a two-game mid-week series from the Hatters.
Stetson falls to 28-10 on the year with the loss while FSU improved to 26-12 with the win. The Seminoles extended their win streak over the Hatters to 15 straight games going back to 2012.
FSU, hit seven home runs in the game with four of those coming in the Seminole's final three times at bat. Combined with the single home run FSU hit on Tuesday, they own exactly half the home runs allowed by Stetson pitching this season.
The seven home runs on Wednesday were the most allowed in a game by Stetson since allowing seven at Florida on April 7, 2015. It was the most home runs in a game for the Seminoles since April 3, 2009, in a game vs Miami.
The Hatters trailed by just one run, 5-4, in the fifth inning when senior closer
Brooks Wilson came on to pitch with no one out and two on base. The Seminoles used a squeeze bunt to push the lead to 6-4, but Wilson got the next three to end the inning.
Things got ugly in the sixth inning as the Seminoles scored six runs on five hits. Wilson allowed his first four extra-base hits of the season – a pair of home runs and a pair of doubles – before leaving the game. The Seminoles greeted sophomore
Ryan Stark with another home run to cap the inning.
FSU scored five more runs in the seventh – three off Stark and two off
Erik Wiebke – before scoring its final run in the eighth inning.
Despite the huge deficit, the Hatters kept battling.
Eric Foggo hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning and
Mike Spooner capped a four-run ninth with a three-run shot.
FSU starter Austin Pollock (3-3) was awarded the win despite allowing four runs on five hit over 3 2/3 innings. Stetson starter
Ben Onyshko (2-1) took the loss, allowing three runs on five hits with four walks.
Offensively, the Hatters got early production from the bottom of the order with two hits, including a double, and two runs from
Austin Bogart and two hits, including a double, and three RBI from
Jonathan Meola.
The Seminoles pounded out a total of 20 hits in the game, led by a career-high five from Drew Mendoza and four from Steven Wells. FSU got home runs from Jackson Lueck, Mendoza, Wells, Rafael Bournigal, Cobi Johnson and two from Cal Raleigh.
The Hatters will get back into ASUN play this weekend with a three-game series at NJIT. Friday's series opener is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Bears and Eagles Stadium in Newark.
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.
