Box score
DeLAND, Fla. – Kevin Fagan's walk-off RBI single lifted the Stetson University baseball team to a 3-2 victory over Northern Kentucky University in Atlantic Sun Conference action on Friday evening at Melching Park.
K'shawn Smith set up the game-winning play in the bottom of the ninth for Stetson (24-26 overall, 13-9 in the A-Sun) when he singled to left-center field with two outs. Fagan then sent a 1-2
Brett Cisper pitch through the left side, and Smith sped around the bases toward home. The Norse attempted to make a play at the plate, but the throw went under
Cody Kuzniczci's glove and Smith scored.
NKU (8-41 overall, 3-19 in the A-Sun) put the first run on the scoreboard in the fourth inning. Back-to-back singles by
Brad Clement and Kuzniczci set up the scoring play, and
Logan Spurlin gave the Norse a 1-0 lead when he hit a single up the middle to bring Clement home.
Tim Clark retired 13 out of the next 15 batters to hold on to the lead for the Norse.
Stetson, however, struck in the bottom of the eighth. With one out, Darby McCormick singled through the right side. Patrick Mazeika followed with a single to send McCormick to third, and
Brett Loeding replaced Clark on the mound.
James Rasmussen doubled down the right-field line, and McCormick came home to even the game. Mazeika scored on the next play when Garrett Russini grounded out, and the Hatters took a 2-1 advantage into the next frame.
Spurlin started the top of the ninth with a double down the left-field line for the Norse, and a sacrifice bunt by
Josh Myers sent
Zac Asman, who pinch ran for Spurlin, to third. After a Stetson pitching change, Tyler Warmoth recorded a strikeout, but
Brandon Wood sent a 2-2 pitch into centerfield and Asman scored to tie the game.
Smith finished 2-for-4 with a run scored to lead the Stetson offense, while Fagan went 2-for-5 with an RBI.
Josh Powers recorded a career-high eight strikeouts over 8 1/3 innings of work for the Hatters. He allowed two runs on eight hits. Warmoth (4-2) collected the final two outs for the victory, and he only surrendered one hit and struck out one.
Wood and Kuzniczci both finished 2-for-4 for the Norse, while Spurlin went 2-for-3 with a double. Wood and Spurlin recorded NKU's two RBIs on the night.
Clark pitched 7 1/3 innings in his first A-Sun start for NKU and gave up two runs on seven hits. Loeding only allowed one hit and collected one strikeout in one inning of relief.
NKU and Stetson return to action on Saturday at 6:30 p.m., and the Hatters will honor their seniors prior to game. Live stats, ASun.TV and audio broadcast links will be available at NKUNorse.com.
