Jacksonville, Fla. -- Ashly Smith and Brittany Hawn each smashed three-run triples as part of the Hatters' seven-run fifth inning as Stetson defeated UNF 8-0 in five innings Sunday afternoon at the UNF Softball Complex.
After dropping the Atlantic Sun series opener on Saturday, the Hatters (23-12, 2-1 A-Sun) stormed back to take two out of three against the Ospreys (12-18, 1-2).
"It was an exciting game," Stetson head coach Frank Griffin said. "At first both pitchers were performing extraordinarily well. I thought it was going to be a close game, and the top of the fifth rolled around, and we just put a lot of hits together.
"I am certainly proud of the team, and I will take two out of three on the road any time," Griffin added.
Stetson led 1-0 in the top of the fifth, when Hawn, Talli Sharp, and Jessie TenBroeck all reached on infield hits to load the bases. Smith then lined a triple into the rightcenter field gap which cleared the bases and gave Stetson a 4-0 lead.
The inning continued as the Hatters strung together three more singles, including an RBI base knock by Kelsey Waters, to re-load the bases for Hawn. After a UNF pitching change, Hawn took the first pitch into the right field corner for another bases-clearing triple.
Freshman Tori Perkins (7-1) tossed a three-hit shutout, her third shutout of the season, walking one and striking out three. She pitched out of jams in the first and second innings, and retired the final seven batters she faced.
"Tori was superb," Griffin said. "She is pitching with confidence and authority. She is hitting her spots. She is using the count to her advantage. She has come a long way since January. For a freshman to be this far along, I am real excited about it."
Kayla Drury's RBI double in the top of first inning gave Stetson an early 1-0 lead.
For the series, the Hatters hit .356 with 31 hits, 20 runs, and three triples. Smith batted .556 (5-for-9) with two triples and six RBI. TenBroeck batted .600 and scored six runs.
"I felt all along that the more pitching we see, the better we were going to get," Griffin said. "Early in the season, pitcers are usually ahead of hitters. Later in the season, the hitters catch up. I think we are starting to catch up."
Stetson will host Marist in a non-conference doubleheader Wednesday before heading to Kennesaw State next weekend.
Notes: With the bases loaded in the series, Stetson was 4-for-5 with a single, double, and two triples ... The Hatters also hit .452 with runners in scoring position ... Stetson's seven triples on the season equals the team's total in each of the past two seasons ... The last time Stetson had two triples in one game was on Feb. 16, 2013 vs. Buffalo - Courtney Brandt and Chrissy Morello.
