Orlando, Fla. – Stetson had a golden opportunity to deliver an early knockout punch Tuesday night at UCF's John Euliano Park, but didn't get the job done. The Knights made it difficult for the Hatters to get another chance, taking a 4-1 decision over Stetson to split the season series.
Stetson falls to 23-6 on the year with the loss while UCF improved to 21-9.
The Hatters got on the board quickly when
Baylen Sparks blasted a solo home run, his first of the year, in the first inning off UCF starter Cre Finfrock (2-0). Stetson had a chance to add more runs in the inning, loading the bases on singles by
Brooks Wilson and
Nico Torino and an infield error. The opportunity escaped, however, when
Austin Hale lined out to center to end the inning.
Stetson had another scoring threat in the second thanks to a pair of two-out walks, but were unable to come up with the hit the Hatters needed.
UCF took advantage of a pair of Stetson mistakes in the second inning to get on the board. After an error and a hit batter, UCF third baseman Griffin Bernardo was called on to put down a sacrifice bunt. Once he got two strikes against him, he got the green light to swing away and blasted a three-run home run to left.
It was just the fourth homer allowed by Stetson pitching this season, and produced the first runs for UCF against the Hatters.
The Knights pushed their lead to 4-1 in the fourth inning with a pair of two-out singles, the second by Ray Alejo to drive home Bernardo.
Following a single in the third inning by Torino, the UCF pitching staff went to work, retiring 13 consecutive Hatters before a
Jacob Koos two out single in the seventh.
It was in the eighth inning that the Hatters had one more chance, loading the bases with two out on a pair of walks and a third Torino hit. All three runners were left stranded when
Jack Gonzalez went down swinging against reliever Thad Ward to end the frame.
Ward, the third of five UCF pitchers in the game, recorded six strikeouts in his two innings of work, with five of the six on called third strikes. Overall, the Hatters wend down on strikes 11 times in the game.
Bryce Turner came on in the ninth to get the final two outs to earn his third save of the year.
For Stetson,
Joey Gonzalez (6-2) took the loss despite posting a career-high 10 strikeouts in his six innings of work. He allowed all four runs, three earned on six hits with two walks.
Vlad Nunez worked the final two innings for Stetson, striking out three.
The Hatters out-hit the Knights 7-6 in the game, led by the three from Torino. Bernardo and Alejo had two hits each for UCF.
The Hatters will open ASUN play this weekend with a three-game series at Kennesaw State. All three games – Friday at 6 pm, Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. – will be broadcast on Facebook.
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.
