Saturday, May 09, 2009

DELAND, Fla. (May 9, 2009) - A seven-run sixth inning for Stetson put the game out of reach for the ETSU baseball team Saturday night as the Bucs fell to the Hatters at Melching Field in DeLand, Fla., 19-4.

 

The Bucs drop to 23-24 overall and 9-17 in conference, while Stetson is now 25-26 and 14-12 in league play.

 

Sean Emory and Jeremy Cruz gave ETSU fits as they combined for nine RBI on the night.

 

ETSU starter Josh Gonzaga (Davie, Fla.) was tabbed with the loss going 5.0 innings allowing four runs on seven hits with four walks and one strikeout. Robby Donovan picked up his fifth win of the season limiting the Bucs to two runs in 7.0 innings on four hits.

 

The Bucs took a 1-0 lead in the top of the second as centerfielder Matthew Scruggs (Knoxville, Tenn.) doubled in the designated hitter Chas Byrne (Johnson City, Tenn.).

 

Stetson tied the game at 1-all in the bottom of the second on a sac fly by Emory. Left fielder Jeff Simpson gave the Hatters a 2-1 lead later in the inning on a RBI single up the middle.

 

In the bottom of the fourth, the Hatters added another run on a Ben Allen (Kingsport, Tenn.) error at second to extend their lead to 3-1.

 

ETSU cut into the lead in the top of the fifth as third baseman Bo Reeder (Cookeville, Tenn.) doubled to left center scoring right fielder Jacob Fabry (Chattanooga, Tenn.) to make the score 3-2.

 

Catcher Nick Rickles added a run for Stetson in the bottom of the fifth on a sac fly to right to increase the Hatter lead to 4-2.

 

The Hatters added seven runs in the bottom of the sixth on six hits highlighted by a two-run home run by second baseman Mark Jones to take a 11-2 lead.

 

Cruz blew the game wide open in the bottom of the seventh on a grand slam to left center to give the Hatters a 15-2 lead. Stetson added three more runs in the inning to bring the score to 18-2.

 

First baseman Paul Hoilman (Johnson City, Tenn.) homered for the 12^th time on the year in the top of the eighth as he crushed a two-run shot to right center to cut the Stetson lead to 18-4.

 

Stetson increased its lead to 19-4 in the bottom of the eighth on a ground out to second.

 

The Bucs are back in action tomorrow at 1 p.m. as they take on Stetson in final game of a three-game series. Please visit www.ETSUBucs.com for more information on ETSU baseball and all other Buccaneer athletic news.

 

Stetson 19, ETSU 4 (May 9, 2009 at DeLand, Fla.)
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ETSU............ 010  010  020   -  4      6      1   (23-24, 9-17 A-Sun)

SU................. 020  117  71x    - 19   22     0   (25-26, 14-12 A-Sun)

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Pitchers: ETSU - Josh Gonzaga; Bo Burton (6); Ben Andrews (6); Taylor Gouffon (7); Danny Petro (8)

SU - Robby Donovan; Ian  Thompson (8); Blake Marsocci (9)

Win - Robby Donovan (5-3) Loss - Josh Gonzaga (3-3)

HR - ETSU - Paul Hoilman (12)

SU - Mark Jones (6); Jeremy Cruz (16)