DeLand, Fla. -- Jessie TenBroeck singled home Brittany Hawn with the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift Stetson to a wild 8-7 victory over visiting Binghamton Friday evening at Patricia Wilson Field.
In a game that featured five ties and three lead changes, the Hatters (18-10) rallied from 4-2 and 6-4 deficits to win their third extra-inning game of the year.
"I was really proud of the girls tonight," Stetson head coach Frank Griffin said. "We are starting to swing the bat throughout the line-up. I was confident no matter who was at the plate, they were going to produce. It was nice to see Talli (Sharp) with a triple. Molly (Shasteen) in the four-slot came through for us. Tori (Perkins) came in and did a good job on the mound, and I am real proud of the whole team."
Hawn started the eighth inning on second base with the international tie break rule in effect. With one out, TenBroeck jumped on the first pitch and laced a ground ball up the middle that scored Hawn with the winning run.
"I went up there with the mindset to try and keep everything down low, because I knew we had Brittany on second with speed," TenBroeck said. "I felt like we came through collectively. We had several hits in clutch situations, so it was good to see our hitting start to come through."
The Hatters trailed 6-4 in the bottom of the sixth when Talli Sharp split the gap in rightcenter field for an RBI triple to cut the deficit to 6-5. Sharp then scored on Ashly Smith's infield single to tie the game at 6. The Hatters added another run in the inning on a Binghamton error, but the Bearcats (5-5) tied the game at 7 in the top of the seventh to force extra innings.
Tori Perkins (3-1) pitched six strong innings of relief to earn the victory, walking two and striking out six. She also pitched out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the top of the eighth inning to keep the game tied at 7.
"It was nice to be able to come in and do my part to help the team," Perkins said.
Perkins came on in the third inning after Brooke Hutto and Chelsea Hostetler combined to work the first two innings. With a deep pitching staff, Griffin was free to go to his bullpen for a third pitcher early in the game.
"You don't know who is going to be number one on a given night," Griffin said. "The great thing about tonight was we only had one ball game. I could have gone through four pitchers and gone back to Brooke if I needed to just to find out who is on."
Batting in the clean-up spot for the first time in her career, Molly Shasteen had two hits in the game, including an RBI single in the bottom of the first. TenBroeck also collected two hits to extend her reached base streak to 24 games. Smith led the Hatters with three hits on the night.
Jazz Vasquez made her season debut in center field. She walked twice and scored a run.
"It is huge having Jazz back," Griffin said. "It gives the whole team more confidence."
Stetson will host George Mason at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Other scores in the Stetson Classic Friday:
UT Martin 2, George Mason 1
George Mason 6, Wagner 2
Wagner 3, Binghamton 1
Notes: Jessie TenBroeck stole her 81st career base, tying her with Chrissy Morello for fifth on the Hatters all-time steals list ... The Hatters stole four bases overall on the night ... Kelsey Waters made a nice catch in the left field corner in the top of the seventh ... TenBroeck and Jessica Griffin teamed up to cut down a runner at the plate in the top of the eighth ... Griffin drew her 100th career walk (third player in school history with 100 walks).
