Sunday, February 20, 2011

DeLAND, Fla. - The Stetson baseball team completed a series sweep of the University of Georgia with an 8-4 victory Sunday afternoon on Melching Field. It is the first time the Hatters have opened the season at 3-0 since 2002 when they won their first eight games. Stetson (3-0) avenged its three losses to Georgia (0-3) last season in Athens and is now 6-8 all-time against the Bulldogs.

Kurt Schluter (Jupiter, Fla.) gave the Hatters their 3rd consecutive quality start by tossing five complete innings with five strike outs and allowing just one run and one walk. He is now 1-0 on the season. Jake Boyd pitched the final 1.1 innings without giving up a hit or a run and picked up his first save.

"Sweeping an SEC club is extremely hard to do. I never would have predicted a sweep, but I really feel our kids were prepared for the weekend. They were mentally prepared and felt really confident", said Stetson head coach Pete Dunn. "Of course that first win the first night really enhanced our confidence. One weekend series does not a season make, but certainly you have to start somewhere and that's an awfully good start."

With the score tied 1-1 heading into the bottom of the 3rd inning Stetson jumped on Georgia starter Alex Wood (Charlotte, N.C.) for a pair of runs and went ahead to stay. Jeff Simpson (Valrico, Fla.) and Spencer Theisen (Longwood, Fla.) reached on a walk and a single and then both scored on a clutch single to left field by Mark Jones (Bunnell, Fla.).