After pounding out 20 hits in Friday's series opener, the Stetson Hatters had to make do with just four in Saturday's game, but that was enough as Stetson topped visiting NJIT 3-2 at Melching Field.
 
Stetson (12-17, 2-0) will go for their first series sweep of the year on Sunday in the finale against the Highlanders (3-20, 0-2). That game is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.
 
While the Hatters managed just four hits in the game, three of those came in the first two innings off NJIT starter Brian Sondergard (0-3) and resulted in all three runs.
 
"When our leadoff guy gets on in an inning, especially early in a game, it lets our offense play," Hatters coach Steve Trimper said. "I like to push the pedal, like to hit and run and like to bunt. I like to push the tempo, especially early in games. It is fun to coach when we can get guys on base early and that kind of breaks the backs of the other team when you can do that."
 
Sophomore Jacob Koos got things started, drawing a walk in the first inning. Freshman Andrew MacNeil followed with a double into the corner in left, setting the stage for a Jack Gonzalez ground ball to score the first run of the day.
 
In the second it was Austin Hale who drew a leadoff walk. He moved up on a balk and then scored on a double into that same left field corner by Colton Lightner. Ben Rowdon then singled to center, scoring Lightner for an early 3-0 lead.
 
That was really all Stetson sophomore right-hander Jack Perkins (3-3) needed. The defending ASUN pitcher of the week cruised through the first four innings before facing his first challenge in the fifth.
 
"Perk was able to pitch out of a couple of jams today," Trimper said. "That bases loaded, one out, jam in the fifth inning was a back-breaker for them. He was able to get some strikeouts and only gave up one run even though they got to him a little bit. It was a hot day out there and he wore down a little quicker."
 
After allowing three consecutive one out singles in the fifth, Perkins got both Justin Etts and Evan Pietronico on strikes to get out of the inning.
 
The Highlanders managed to plate a run in the sixth when Matthew Cocciadiferro singled on a Baltimore chop to short and then scored on a double into the right field corner by Michael Anastasia. Perkins bounced back to retire the next three hitters, two on strikes, to get out of that inning with no further damage.
 
The sophomore put the Highlanders down in order in the seventh to close out his day, allowing just the one run on seven hits with eight strikeouts.
 
Senior Tyler Keller pitched a perfect eighth inning for Stetson before turning the ball over to Joey Gonzalez in the ninth.
 
"Keller did a good job for us in the eighth inning and, even though they had some lefties coming up, we want to develop some defined roles in the pen and wanted to get Joey out there to try to get the save," Trimper said. "All-in-all, I thought we pitched the ball well."
 
Gonzalez surrendered a one-out double to Johnny Maletesta in the ninth, followed by a two-out RBI single by Cody Kramer, but got the final out on a ground ball to pick up his fourth save of the year.
 
"The thing people are going to want to know is how you go from 20 hits in one game to four the next day," Trimper said. "I felt that we swung the bats well today and we hit the ball hard. The wind was a little different and we flew out a lot. We were about a credit card width away from getting the ball on the ground in the infield to make them have to make plays.
 
"We only struck out three times today and we stayed aggressive. This team has to be aggressive at the plate. I was actually pleased with the way we swung the bats, the ball just didn't fall our way today."
 
Of the 24 outs for Stetson, 13 were on balls in the air. Much of the credit for that goes to Sondergard and reliever John Saviano. Sondergard allowed all three runs and four hits over his 5.1 innings. The Hatters were unable to get a hit off Saviano, who had three strikeouts in 2.2 innings.
 
Rowdon had two of the Hatters hits while Cocciadiferro, Anastasia and Kramer had two hits each for NJIT.
 
"We were a little flat today, and I think that was because we thought it was going to be easy," Trimper said. "Nothing is easy in college baseball. That was something I addressed with the team. College baseball is hard, it doesn't matter who you are playing. It is hard to win and you have to keep your energy up.
 
"We have to come out and play every day as if we are playing for the national championship. Today was the biggest game of the year. Now we have to reset, learn from this, and make tomorrow the biggest game of the year."
 
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.