The Stetson Hatters had to battle from behind all night Monday in the third game of the series against Siena. In the end, the Hatters fell 90 feet shy of forcing the game into extra innings, falling to the Saints 8-7.
 
The teams will square off again on Tuesday night at 6:30 in the final game of the series.
 
Stetson (1-6) fell behind 4-0 early in the game, battled back to take a 5-4 lead on to have that advantage turn into a 7-5 deficit. The Hatters plated a pair of runs in the eighth inning to tie the game again, but then surrendered the winning run in the top of the ninth.
 
In their last turn at bat, Jacob Koos led off the ninth with a single and then moved into scoring position on a passed ball. A fly ball moved him to third before Siena (2-4) brought in senior right-hander John Nolan to close the game. He got Eric Foggo and Jonathan Meola on ground balls to preserve the win for the Saints.
 
Reliever James Flood (1-0) earned the win with 1.1 innings of work. Nolan picked up his first save.
 
Stetson junior Ryan Stark (0-2), the sixth of seven Stetson pitchers in the game, took the loss.
 
Things did not get off to the kind of start Stetson sophomore starter Zemp Schwab had hoped for. After retiring the first two Siena hitters, the Saints got a double from Brian Kelly, an RBI single from Nico Ramos and a run-scoring double from Jonathan Crimmin for a 2-0 Siena lead.
 
The Saints chased Schwab in the second, scoring two more runs on three hits. The big blow was a two-run single by Devan Kruzinski.
 
Senior Vlad Nunez came on out of the pen the limit the damage and hold the Saints at bay, giving the Hatters a chance to mount a rally.
 
Stetson got on the board against Siena starter Dylan D'Anna in the fourth when Austin Bogart led off with a single, moved up on a wild pitch and scored on a single by freshman Mark Townsend.
 
The Hatters chased D'Anna in the fifth inning, plating four runs to take a 5-4 lead. Bogart had a two-run single in the frame and Meola greeted reliever Matt Pierce with a two-run double to give Stetson the lead.
 
The lead didn't last long. Miami native Yasser Santana led off the sixth with a single off Stetson senior Vlad Nunez. After retiring the next two Saints, Nunez allowed a walk to put two runners on base. Bogart came in from left field to pitch, surrendering an RBI single to Alex Milone on his first pitch, tying the game.
 
After Crimmin was called save at first on a ground ball, freshman Bret Nielen came on to face Zach Durfee, who delivered a two-run single for a 7-5 Siena lead.
 
Meola got the Hatters going in the eighth with his third double of the night, scoring on a Baylen Sparks single to cut the Siena lead to 7-6. After Nick Cardieri drew a walk and Flood was called for a balk, Jorge Arenas delivered a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 7.
 
Stark came on to open the ninth for the Hatters, surrendering a walk to start the frame. After a sacrifice bunt and fly ball to center, Kruzinski delivered an RBI single that deflected off Starks' foot and past Arenas at short to play the winning run.
 
Bogart and Meola had three hits each to lead Stetson. Meola's three doubles were a career-high and give him five two-base hits in the last two games. Kruzinski led the Saints' 13-hit attack with three.
 
Sophomore Chris Gonzalez is expected to go to the mound to start Tuesday's series finale for the Hatters. He will square off against Siena freshman left-hander Ben Seiler.
 
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.