Fort Myers, Fla. -- As rough as Stetson's performance was in game one of Saturday's Atlantic Sun Conference doubleheader, the Hatters were just as sharp in game two.
Florida Gulf Coast (20-20, 4-4 A-Sun) took the series opener 13-2 in five innings before Stetson bounced back for a 7-1 win in the rematch.
The Hatters (27-17, 6-4 A-Sun) had 11 hits in game two, including three by Jazz Vasquez. The split keeps Stetson in second place in the A-Sun standings, just percentage points behind UNF.
"We came out in the first game and we got beat 13-2 in four and a half innings," Stetson head coach Frank Griffin said. "We made three errors, we didn't pitch well, and we didn't hit well. To come out 30 minutes later in the same park, playing the same team and to play as well as we did shows a lot of character."
Hatter freshman Tori Perkins (9-3) went the distance in the circle for her ninth win of the year. She allowed one unearned run while walking one and striking out four. She also talked Griffin into keeping her in the game after suffering shortness of breath in the fifth inning.
"Tori was awesome, and then to have an asthma attack and refuse to come out," Griffin said. "She said, 'Just let me get my wind back.' Then she went out and finished the job."
Brittany Hawn scored three runs in game two, including the 100th of her career. She also stole her 50th career base while playing her 200th career game.
"Overall, I think we pushed through and showed great perseverance," Hawn said. "Things weren't going our way in the first game, but in 30 minutes we managed to come back and be a totally new team. We hit the ball well, we played great defense, and our pitcher Tori Perkins was amazing."
Talli Sharp, Jessica Griffin, and Hawn each put down successful squeeze bunts in the game two win. Kayla Drury and Kelsey Waters added two hits apiece. Ashly Smith had two hits in the opener and three hits on the day.
The teams will play the rubber game of the series at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Notes: The Hatters stole nine bases on the day, giving them 99 for the season ... Frank Griffin won his 895th career game ... The Hatters improved to 19-3 when scoring first and 21-3 when scoring three runs or more ... Kelsey Waters saved at least one run with a diving catch in left field in game two.
