Kennesaw, Ga. – It is ironic that Stetson lost its series finale to Kennesaw State on Sunday at Stillwell Stadium due to a fly ball lost in the sun after playing the entire weekend in cloudy and gloomy conditions.
 
In a tie game in the 10^th inning, with the bases loaded and two out, Kennesaw State's Forrest Bramlett hit a routine fly ball to right that Stetson's Mike Spooner catches 99 times out of 100. The one time he couldn't see the ball cost the Hatters as the Owls scored twice in the final frame to take a 4-3 win.
 
The Hatters fall to 24-8 overall with the loss and 1-2 in ASUN play. Kennesaw State, which is the only ASUN team to take a series from Stetson over the last two years, doing it twice, improved to 17-15 overall and 4-2 in league play.
 
The Owls forced extra innings by scoring a pair of runs on a two-out, two-run single by A.J. Willoughby in the ninth, spoiling a shutout bid by Stetson starter Mitchell Senger.
 
The Hatters answered with a run in the top of the 10^th on a two-out single by Jacob Koos off Owls reliever Ryan Welsey (2-1), scoring Spooner from second.
 
Kennesaw's rally in the 10^th was not without controversy. The Owls got a leadoff single from Tyler Simon off Stetson reliever Vlad Nunez (0-1) to start the frame. After Grant Williams popped up a bunt attempt for the first out, Nunez hit Griffin Helms with a 1-2 pitch. Justin Franklin followed by drawing a walk before the controversy began.
 
Nunez threw inside to Terrence Newman on his first pitch, with the ball appearing to hit off the knob of the bat for a foul, which is what plate umpire Lance Weems called. Newman reacted immediately by running to first, indicating that he was hit on the elbow by the pitch.
 
KSU coach Mike Samsing came out to argue the call and, after the umpires met in the middle of the field for a solid four minutes, the call was reversed, sending Newman to first and scoring Simon with the tying run.
 
Stetson coach Steve Trimper argued that the play should stand as called, but was unable to persuade the crew.
 
Nunez appeared on the verge of escaping from the inning after getting LaDonis Bryant on a foul pop before Bramlett lifted an 0-2 pitch to right for the game winner.
 
The Hatters took advantage of the one mistake made by either team, scoring a pair of unearned runs in the seventh inning after an error on KSU shortstop David Chabut.
 
With two out in the inning following the error, Austin Hale and Jonathan Meola delivered back-to-back RBI doubles off starter Jake Rothwell to plate a pair of Stetson runs
 
Senger allowed 10 hits, but just two runs in his nine innings of work. He did not walk anyone and struck out five. Rothwell allowed the two unearned runs on five hits in his seven innings of work before Wesley finished things off, allowing the one run on one hit.
 
Offensively, the Hatters had just six hits in the game, with two each coming from Spooner and Hale. The Owls finished with 12 hits, with two each from Chabut, Simon, Helms and Bryant.
 
The Hatters will return home on Tuesday night for a tilt against South Florida. First pitch at Melching Field is scheduled for 6:30 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.