Charleston, SC – Stetson junior Brooks Wilson gave the Hatters everything he had on Friday night in a complete game effort against The Citadel.
 
Wilson established a new career-high with 14 strikeouts against the Bulldogs, but it was a half dozen or so pitches in the sixth and eighth innings that he would love to have back. Those pitches made all the difference as The Citadel defeated Stetson 5-1, extending the Hatters' losing streak to five games.
 
The Bulldogs improved to 4-8 on the year with the win, which snapped their four-game skid. Stetson is now 5-10 on the season.
 
Wilson (1-1) and Citadel starter J.P. Sears (2-1) squared off in an old-fashioned pitchers' dual at Joe Riley Park, the home of the Class A Charleston RiverDogs. Sears came into the game ranked third in the nation with 32 strikeouts on the year. He had seven in eight innings on Friday, limiting the Hatters to just one run on six hits.
 
"I thought it was really the best game Brooks has pitched so far this year," Hatters coach Steve Trimper said. "He made a couple of bad pitches in those two innings, and they made him pay for every one."
 
The Hatters scored their only run of the night in the fifth inning when freshman Austin Bogart led off with a long home run to left. No other Stetson player advanced past second base in the game.
 
Wilson had a hot hand on the mound for Stetson, having recorded four consecutive strikeouts going to the sixth inning. He went through the bottom third of the Bulldogs' lineup in the fifth on just nine pitches.
 
In the sixth inning Wilson lost his edge just long enough for the top of the Citadel lineup to go to work. Clay Martin led off the inning with a double and then scored on a one-out single by Jonathan Sabo. Ben Peden followed with a two-run homer to put the Bulldogs up 3-1.
 
Wilson regained his form in the seventh, striking out the side, but the Bulldogs struck for a pair of insurance runs in the eighth inning. Sabo blasted a solo home run to straight away center. Peden followed by drawing a walk. He moved up on an infield single by Bryce Leasure and then scored on a hit by Joe Sabatini.
 
Citadel closer Martin Morris came on in the ninth, retiring the Hatters in order to close out the game.
 
The Hatters will have two chances to snap their losing skid on Saturday. Due to expected rain in the Charleston area on Sunday, the teams will play a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Sophomores Jack Perkins (0-2, 3.60) and Logan Gilbert (1-0, 0.50) will pitch for Stetson while The Citadel will counter with freshmen Will Abbott (0-1, 6.75) and Will Pillsbury (0-3, 8.10).
 
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.