DeLand, Fla. -- Ashly Smith broke a 1-1 tie with a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth as Stetson defeated Lipscomb 3-1 Sunday afternoon at Patricia Wilson Field.
Tori Perkins threw her second straight gem in the circle as the Hatters (29-19, 8-6 A-Sun) took the series from the Lady Bisons (22-22, 7-8) two games to one.
With the victory, the Hatters climbed to second place in the league standings and sit just percentage points behind conference leader FGCU.
It was the second straight day Perkins and Lipscomb's Kelly Young were locked in pitcher's duel. The Hatters won Saturday's series opener 2-0.
"I think (Young) is the best pitcher we have faced in conference play, and we beat her twice," Stetson head coach Frank Griffin said. "One of the major reasons is because Tori did such an outstanding job. She gave up one run in 14 innings. Another freshman, Ashly comes through with a big hit after Molly (Shasteen) came through with a big hit. It was just a good ball game."
On Sunday, both pitchers hung zeros on the board through the first four innings. In the fifth, Lipscomb grabbed a 1-0 lead as Caitlin Plocheck hit a lead-off double and later scored on a squeeze bunt by Malorie Giere.
Stetson battled back in their half of the inning. Kelsey Waters led off with a bunt single and moved to third on Molly Shasteen's double off the top of the right field fence. With one out, Waters scored on a wild pitch, and with two outs, Smith hammered a 1-2 pitch over the left field wall for her fifth home run of the year.
"(Young) was keeping it away from the lefties, and Ashly was able to figure it out and make something happen." Griffin said.
"I just wanted to come through for the team," Smith said.
Perkins made the lead hold up as she retired the final eight batters she faced. For the game, she allowed four hits, no walks, and threw 58 of her 88 pitches for strikes.
"Tori had great control of her pitches," Griffin said. "She kept the ball in the strike zone or near the strike zone. She also kept it down for the most part, and her defense played outstanding behind her."
Stetson's infield made two stellar defensive plays - one by Brittany Hawn at third and another by Kayla Drury at short. With no outs and a runner at first in the top of the fourth, Drury stabbed a hard hit grounder headed for center field, stepped on second, and threw to first to complete the double play.
"I can't believe she even caught the ball much less turned the double play," Griffin said. "It was a great day for the Hatters."
Each team was held to just four hits in the game. Shasteen had two hits for Stetson, while Waters and Smith had one hit each.
The Hatters will host Jacksonville next weekend in the final A-Sun series of the year.
Notes: Jessica Griffin made her 200th career start behind the plate, and her 130th in a row ... Stetson improved to 20-1 when leading after five innings ... All 14 Hatter home runs this year have come at home ... Stetson did not commit an error all weekend ... The Hatters need one more win to clinch an A-Sun tournament berth. A sweep next weekend would give Stetson a chance to win the regular season title.
