April 22, 2008

Box Score

Daytona Beach, Fla. - Stetson University scores four runs in the top of the 11th inning to escape from Jackie Robinson Ballpark with a 6-2 victory over Bethune-Cookman University on Tuesday night in a classic non-conference battle between Volusia County rivals in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Whether it is right or not, it seems very apparent that Stetson (17-24) has the only number that counts when they play B-CU, the right amount of runs on the board at the end of the game. Bethune-Cookman (25-16) just can't find a way, no matter how hard head coach Mervyl Melendez and his staff tries, to knock off their Volusia County rivals from the west [DeLand]. For the first time since the 2003, the Hatters rode back west with a season series sweep of the Wildcats ... an absolute bitter taste that head coach Mervyl Melendez will have in his mouth for some time to come.

The Wildcats went with Eric Thomas on the mound as the strong-throwing junior from Gainesville limited the Hatters to just two (2) runs in his six and two-third frames on the mound for the Maroon and Gold.

SU jumped on top in the third inning with two runs coming across. The Hatters used a walk to Josh Davis followed by a single from Erich Holland to put runners in scoring position. That allowed leadoff hitter Jeff Simpson to lay down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners a base each. The first run scored when shortstop Casey Frawley batted a single through the right side to advance Davis home. The second run crossed courtesy an exceptionally rare wild pitch from Thomas.

The teams continued their fast-paced pitcher's duel between SU freshman Will Dorsey and B-CU's Thomas until the Wildcats touched the scoreboard in the home half of the sixth inning.

Senior shortstop José Lozada reached safely on a dropped fly ball down the left field line before being replaced by pinch runner freshman Devin De La Rosa. He immediately stole second base, and first baseman Osvaldo Torres grounded out to allow De La Rosa to advance to third base. He came in to score on a throwing error charged to the SU infield on a shot from senior Neal Jones.

B-CU tied the game up in the eighth inning when Neal Jones on the play. The Wildcats would eventually leave two runners on base in the frame. The `Cats left 11 on base for the contest including two in the 10th and one in the 11th.

That, however, would come back to haunt B-CU as Stetson eventually found a way to get to relief hurler Phil Enright out of the pen. Stetson countered with their ace closer in the eighth as Robbie Elsemiller looked for the save. He would not get it, but did pick up the win.

After throwing two good innings of relief, Enright was eventually touched in the 11th.

Jeff Simpson drew a one-out walk and scored on a rocket double down the left field line by Frawley to give Stetson a 3-2 lead. Robert Crews was next up and was intentionally walked. Matt Sorrell stepped in as a pinch hitter and drew a walk to load the bases. Frawley scored on a wild pitch, and Sean Emory reached base on an infield single knocking in Crews. Sorrell ended up scoring the final run on a balk and Stetson had built up a 6-2 lead. It was a lead that would stand up as the final score.

Enright took the loss for the `Cats to even his record at 2-2, while the win likewise evened the record of Elsemiller at 2-2 for the Hatters.

The `Cats were led at the plate by José Ortiz with two hits, as well as Hoyte collecting two hits as well.

B-CU looks to bounce back Thursday night as they travel up I-95 to take on the University of North Florida at Harmon Stadium on the campus of UNF in Jacksonville, Fla. First pitch is set for a 7 p.m. start time. For more information, please call the B-CU Office of Sports Information at (386) 481-2206.