Hats rally for two

By Roger Gilmore
BEACON SPORTS EDITOR

posted May 5, 2009 - 9:42:06am

The Stetson Hatters carried a four-game winning streak into their three-game Atlantic Sun Conference series here, with the University of North Florida Ospreys seeking to improve their league and overall records.

Earlier in the week, the Hats rallied twice to defeat the Bethune-Cookman University Wildcats and Florida International Golden Panthers here on Melching Field at Conrad Park.

Wednesday, the Hats will be in Orlando to face the University of Central Florida Knights at 6:30 p.m., remembering all too well their past trip, when they held a 10-0 lead, only to drop a 13-12 decision.

Back to A-Sun action over the weekend, with the East Tennessee State Bucs in town for games at 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, plus a 1 p.m. start Sunday. On May 12, UCF will visit here to make up an earlier rainout. Regular-season play winds down May 14-15, with a trip to Florida Gulf Coast for a three-game A-Sun test.

Stetson will host the 2009 A-Sun Tournament May 20-23, with pairings yet to be decided. Jacksonville and Belmont have already qualified for the tournament, with the other four spots up for grabs between the other five eligible teams. Currently, the Hats stand fourth in the field at 10-11 A-Sun and 21-24 overall, while the Campbell Camels are seventh at 6-14 and 22-19, respectively.

North Florida was coming here on the heels of a 10-1 win over the nationally ranked Miami Hurricanes.

Three in ninth

Tuesday, the visiting B-CU Wildcats held a 5-0 lead, and then going into the bottom of the seventh inning, they led, 7-3, only to have the Hatters chip away with one in the seventh and eighth, plus a game-winning three in the ninth for an 8-7 triumph.

The Hats improved to 20-24 in the non-conference game, while the ’Cats slipped to 24-22. SU was outhit, 12-7.

Five B-CU pitchers issued 11 bases on balls, with a couple of hit batters, plus a series of wild pitches. Seven SU hurlers allowed just one base on balls, and fanned six.

Jeremy Cruz stroked the game-winning single in the ninth, earlier had another one-bagger, and knocked in four runs. Nick Rickles tripled, with singles by Mark Jones, Casey Frawley, Aaron Crittenden and Jacob deGrom.

Hatter-starter David Burns worked three-and-a-third innings, as he gave up six hits and three runs, and whiffed three. Robbie Powell, Jake Hitchcock, Ian Thompson, Tucker Donahue, Travis Stortz and Nick Bohne (3-1) worked in relief. The latter needed only five pitches to record two outs. C.J. Lauriello homered, doubled and singled twice for the ’Cats.

FlU falls

Wednesday night, the Hats grabbed an early lead and earned a 7-3 win over the Florida International Golden Panthers (27-17) for their fourth-straight win.

Ryan Sweat hurled three hitless innings with one walk for his fourth win against one loss. Blake Marsocci, Thompson, Jake Boyd, Powell and Bohne closed out.

Cruz headed a 12-hit attack for the Hats, with three singles, while Kyle Maulbetsch tripled and singled. Frawley and Jones each had a pair of one-baggers. Sean Emory, Crittenden and deGrom added singles.

— info@beacononlinenews.com

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