The Stetson Hatters spotted visiting Siena an early lead on Thursday night, but bounced back behind a home run from sophomore Mike Spooner to take a 10-6 victory over the Saints, sweeping a rain-delayed two-game series.
 
The Hatters (2-3) will get right back to work on Friday night when they open a three-game weekend series against High Point (3-1). Friday night's series opener will feature a ceremonial first pitch from NASCAR Hall of Famer Donnie Allison and DeLand Mayor Bob Apgar.
 
Siena (0-5) will head down the Florida coast to open a three-game series against Pittsburgh in Vero Beach.
 
"Offensively, we had 10 hits again, which was nice," Hatters coach Steve Trimper said. "We finally had our offensive board up in the dugout and I have been telling the guys that if we can accomplish five of the seven things on the board, we will put ourselves in pretty good position to win. Tonight, we got six of the seven."
 
After junior starter Ben Onyshko (1-1) had some control problems in the first inning that cost him when Jordan Folgers doubled in two runs, the Hatters came back with a pair of runs in the second off Siena starter Shane Barringer (0-1). It was a pair of freshmen at the bottom of the order who did the damage, with Chris Tidwell plating a run on a sacrifice fly and Ben Rowdon following with a run-scoring single to tie the game.
 
"Tidwell has excelled and you can see that look in his eyes now that he has some swagger and he feels good about what he has been doing," Trimper said. "I hope we see that from some of the other younger guys. It was important to get Rowdon in the game tonight and he had a couple of good at bats."
 
The Saints got a run back in the third when big first baseman Joe Drpich reached on a bunt single and then scored on an infield single by Jonathan Crimmin.
 
Spooner put the Hatters out front to stay in the fourth when his fly ball to right got into the wind and carried out for a two-run homer. It was the first career homer for Spooner and the first home run of the season for Stetson.
 
"I didn't think it had any chance when it came off the bat," Trimper said. "It just had tremendous backspin and got a lot of help from the wind."
 
Stetson added three runs in the fourth inning off Siena reliever Mark Levesque. Tidwell started things with a one-out single and moved up to third on a throwing error by Levesque. Rowdon followed with a sacrifice fly. Two walks and a pitching change later, Kirk Sidwell ripped a two-run double to right for a 7-3 lead.
 
The Hatters added three more runs in the sixth with Tidwell and Rowdon again sparking the rally. Tidwell doubled to open the inning and then moved up the third on an infield single by Rowdon, who promptly stole second. Jacob Koos drove in both runs with a hit to left and then scored on a pinch-hit double by Jack Gonzalez.
 
Stetson gave some young pitchers a chance to work over the final three innings and Siena chipped away with single runs in each of the final three frames. Sophomore Joey Gonzalez came on with two on and two out in the ninth to get the final out, earning his first save.
 
Onyshko struck out six over five innings, while allowing three runs on four hits and three walks, to get the win.
 
"We have to be able to throw more strikes," Trimper said. "There were just way too many pitches thrown in the game. We walked a lot of guys and pitched from behind a lot. We did have three freshmen who threw in this game, so they may have been a little nervous."
 
The six Stetson pitchers combined to allow 10 hits, walking six while throwing 150 pitches.
 
Trimper said the rainout on Wednesday forced the team to spend more time talking about the things it needs to improve instead of practicing.
 
"This is awesome," Trimper said of the busy schedule. "We haven't had time to practice, but we have continued to talk during games, before games and after games about the mistakes we have made and what we need to improve. I love that we are playing a bunch of games early because we need to see some guys play and get them some innings. There is no better way to establish depth than to play games."
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.