Miami, Fla. – Despite having twice as many hits as the homestanding FIU Panthers on Wednesday night, the Stetson Hatters let a late lead slip away in a 7-6 loss to split the season series.
Stetson fall to 20-13 on the year with the loss, which ended a five-game win streak against FIU. The Panthers improved to 15-21 on the season.
The Hatters took a 6-3 lead to the seventh inning, but allowed FIU to score four times in the frame on a walk and three hits, including a three-run homer from redshirt freshman catcher Ben Rozenblum off Stetson freshman
Jonathan Velazquez.
Stetson had chances to tie the game in both the eighth and ninth innings, but left the tying run in scoring position in both frames. The Hatters left 12 runners on base in the game, including eight left in scoring position.
The Hatters will continue on their week-long road trip with a three-game series at FGCU this weekend in ASUN play. Friday's game from Swanson Stadium is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start.
Game Facts
- Win – Jan Figueroa (2-1)
- Loss – Jonathan Velazquez (0-1)
- Save – Angel Tiburcio (3)
- Time – 3:19
Scoring Summary
- T3 – Hernen Sardinas and Eric Foggo both drew walks with the bases loaded to force in a pair of runs, but the Hatters left the bases loaded.
- B4 – Jonathan Gonzalez allowed the first two hitters he faced to reach on a walk and a single up the middle. Rosenblum singled in the first run for FIU and, after Austin Amaral came in to pitch Luis Chaves delivered a squeeze bunt to score Alec Sanchez to tie the game at 2-2.
- T5 – Andrew MacNeil led off the inning with a homer to right, putting Stetson in front 3-2.
- B5 – FIU came right back to tie the game thanks to a hit batter, a walk, a sacrifice bunt and a ground ball to second.
- T6 – After Nick DiPonzio and Jorge Arenas reached one-out hits, MacNeil singled to drive in a run for a 4-3 lead. Kyle Ball followed with a single to load the bases for Sardinas, who singled to drive in a run. Brandon Hylton followed with another RBI single for a 6-3 Stetson lead.
- B7 – Anthony DeFabbia put a pair or Panthers on base, allowing a walk and a single to Steven Ondina, but appeared set to get out of the inning when he got an infield pop-up for the second out. Justin Farmer had other plans, picking up a two-out single to score a run. Valazquez came on to pitch for Stetson, surrendering the deciding three-run homer to Rosebblum.
Hatters Notes
- Kyle Ball extended his team-best hitting and on-base streaks to 13 games and 25 games respectively with his two-hit night. Christian Pregent saw his on-base streak come to an end with a hitless night that included leaving eight runners on base.
- The home run for MacNeil was the 11th of his career. He also scored three runs in the game to improve his season total to 42, which leads the ASUN and is tied for fifth in the nation.
- Sardinas had his eighth multiple-hit game of the year and picked up his 13th double of the season.
- Foggo's bases loaded walk pushed his career RBI total to 99.
- The two teams combined to use 13 pitchers in the game, seven for Stetson and six for FIU.
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.
