Stetson closes its six-game home stand by renewing its longest established rivalry against the Florida Gators.

The Hatters and the Gators, or at least the fore-runners to the University of Florida, first met in the second season of Stetson baseball, in 1902. The Hatters won that initial meeting 9-2. Florida leads the all-time series against Stetson 83-61, including both games played most recently, during the 2015 season.

Tonight's game will be the first of 15 scheduled home games that will be broadcast on ESPN3 this year. Evan Weston and Pete Blais will provide commentary for the game.

The Gators come into the game ranked 11th by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, 13th by Baseball American and 12th by the USA Today Coaches poll after starting the season as the No. 1 ranked team in the nation. Florida was swept on the road by Auburn last weekend in the opening series of the SEC season.

The Hatters and Gators last squared off during the 2015 season with Florida taking both games in the home-and-home season series. Florida won the game in DeLand 9-6 by scoring three times in the eighth inning and once in the ninth. The Gators hit a school-record tying seven home runs, including four by then freshman JJ Schwarz, in taking the game in Gainesville 22-2.

The Hatters' offensive struggles this year have continued through the month of March. In 13 games so far this month Stetson has scored just 48 runs for an average of 3.6 per game, while posting a 4-9 record. In the nine losses, the Hatters have scored just 21 runs, for an average of 2.3 per game.

During the series against Fairfield last weekend the Hatters were shutout for the third time this year. Stetson suffered just one shutout loss during the 2016 season after getting shutout three times in 2015. The program record for shutout losses in a season is six, which has been done several times, most recently in 1988.

On the other hand, the Hatters posted their third shutout win of the season on Sunday after having just one such win last year. The most shutouts for the Hatters' pitching staff in a single season is eight, which was accomplished in 1972 and again in 1974.

Since the end of World War II, the Hatters have played 361 games that have ended in a shutout, winning 205 of those contests.

Freshman Ryan Stark has spent time on the mound in each of the Hatters' three shutout wins this season. The right-hander has a 1-2 record with two saves and a 2.76 ERA in nine appearances.

Sophomore Joey Gonzalez (1-0, 3.52) will make his first start on the mound this year, and just the second start of his career, in the game against the Gators. In his only start last year, at Florida State, Gonzalez allowed seven runs, five earned, on seven hits in three innings of work.

Gonzalez will be opposed on the mound by Florida freshman Nate Brown (1-0, 3.00) who, after allowing three earned run in his first collegiate inning, has pitched eight straight scoreless frames. He will be making his third start of the year.

Like the Hatters, who are hitting just .245 on the year, the Gators have struggled offensively. Florida is batting just .240 on the year and has scored two fewer runs than Stetson this season. Florida has made up for that deficiency by being one of the best defensive teams in the country. Florida has been charged with just 15 errors in 21 games, and has turned 20 double plays.

The Hatters will be on the road this weekend for a three-game series at Tulane while Florida returns home for three game series against No. 5 LSU.