Date Posted: 6/2/2007

Tallahassee, Fla. – After 65 previous meetings, Stetson and Bethune-Cookman met in the post-season for the first time Saturday afternoon in the NCAA Tallahassee Regional. The Hatters (42-20) improved to 56-10 lifetime against B-CU (33-27) with a 12-0 victory to eliminate the Wildcats.

Stetson advances to face the losing team in tonight’s match-up between No.1 seed Florida State and No. 2 seed Mississippi State, who defeated the Hatters on Friday. If Stetson wins that game, which begins at 1:00 p.m., the Hatters would play again at 7:00 p.m.

“I’m very proud of the way we came out today after a very sub-par performance yesterday,” head coach Pete Dunn said.

Corey Kluber (12-2) notched the win with seven shutout innings. The right-hander from Coppell, Texas scattered five hits and two walks while striking out seven.

“Kluber set the tone for us on the mound,” Dunn said.

He passed Willard Brown for the fifth-highest single season strikeout total (117) in Stetson history. His 12 wins match Roger Lincoln (2002) and Wayne Perry (1969) for the school’s second-highest single season total. Only one runner advanced past second base, as Kluber lowered his season ERA to 1.93.

A crazy third inning put Stetson on the scoreboard. Josh Clendenin started the flurry of activity with a slicing blooper down the right field line. It appeared destined for foul territory so Clendenin initially did not run and B-CU’s first baseman did not cover the bag. By the time the ball landed safely, Clendenin was able to scurry down the line and reach safely. A wild pitch moved him to second and Kevin Johnson followed with a bunt single. After Johnson beat the throw to first, he noticed no one covering second base and took the bag without a throw.

Shane Jordan made the Wildcats pay with a double into the right-center field gap that scored both base runners and put the Hatters on top. Justin Bass later singled in Jordan for a 3-0 lead.

“They (Bethune-Cookman) helped us a little today,” Dunn said, “and we were able to take advantage of it. When you’re facing elimination, you’ll take whatever you can get.”

The Hatters expanded their advantage with a five-run fourth. Jeremy Cruz led off with a home run to right, his third of the year. Bass singled in two more, Adam Tindle doubled in a run, and another scored on an error, making it 9-0.

Three more runs in the ninth sealed the victory for Stetson. It was the Hatters first win in a Regional since 2003.

The 12-run victory for Stetson was their largest margin of victory in a Regional while Bethune-Cookman was shut out in a Regional for the first time since 2001. That was also in Tallahassee and against an Atlantic Sun Conference foe, Jacksonville.

The three hits for Jordan brought him within four of the Stetson and Atlantic Sun Conference career record. The three RBI for Bass give him five in the tournament. As a team, the Hatters knocked out 14 hits, their highest total since May 2.

“Today we tried to look for our pitch,” Jeremy Cruz said. “We were trying to get early fastballs and knock them around the ballpark.”

Stetson now awaits either a rematch with Mississippi State or a battle with top-seeded Florida State.

“I am very happy to still be here and still be playing,” Dunn said. “Hopefully tomorrow is a long day for us.”

Courtesy of Stetson Athletics

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