Buies Creek, N.C. - Stetson (11-2, 1-0 A-Sun) opened its Atlantic Sun Conference season with a 14-3 win over Campbell University (6-8, 0-4 A-Sun) Friday night in Buies Creek, N.C. Five Hatters delivered two hits each and starting pitcher Lindsey Caughel (Orlando, Fla.) tossed six complete innings to raise his record to 2-0. Caughel allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out three batters without a walk.

Ben Carhart (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) finished the game 2-for-5 with a triple, two runs scored and an RBI. Spencer Theisen (Longwood, Fla.) was also 2-for-5 with a triple. He scored one run and added a pair of RBI.

"It's a big win, any conference win is a big win", said Stetson head coach Pete Dunn. "We didn't do much early but Caughel pitched himself out of some jams and kept us in position."

"As long as you can stay in the ball game you give yourself a chance. We finally broke through late and won the game", he added.

Campbell struck first with a single run in the bottom of the first inning and held the lead until the 4^th when Stetson manufactured three runs. Jeff Simpson (Valrico, Fla.) led off with a walk and moved to second on a bunt single by Sean Emory (Miami, Fla.). Simpson scored on a fielder's choice by Nick Rickles (Loxahatchee, Fla.), Emory scored on a bases loaded walk to Trey Blackman (Altamonte Springs, Fla.), and Rickles scored the third run on a sacrifice fly to deep right field by Ryan Lashley (Lake Worth, Fla.).  

The Camels had a leadoff double by Josh Holskey (Roanoke, Va.) in the bottom of the 4^th that was wasted when Rickles caught him off guard with a quick throw to second base that forced him into an unsuccessful steal attempt.

A solo home run in the bottom of the 5^th by Campbell's Erick Gaylord (Atlanta, Ga.) put the Camels one back at 3-2, but Stetson answered with four runs in the 7^th to extend its lead to five. The key hits were an RBI single by Emory and an RBI triple to deep left center by Carhart.

Campbell scored one more run in the bottom of the 8^th before Stetson blew the game open with a seven-run 9^th inning.

The Hatters will return to Taylor Field in Buies Creek for a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1:00 p.m. Stetson fans can hear the games on Hatter Vision at GoHatters.com with Bill Topping calling the action.