Virtually nothing went right for the Stetson Hatters on Friday night at Melching Field in the second game of their weekend series against Kennesaw State.
 
The Owls used a four-run sixth inning to seize control of the game and then pulled away late to take a 7-3 decision, clinching a series win over the Hatters.
 
"It was pretty obvious that we didn't play our best baseball game today," Hatters coach Steve Trimper said. "We have been playing some decent baseball, and this is a big setback, but it doesn't mean it is the end of the weekend. We have to comeback, win the game tomorrow, and get ourselves on a streak.
 
"There are going to be some games you just have to flush down the toilet – well this is one of those games. We have to reset and come back tomorrow. How they come back and react is very big. It will be important to come out and play well tomorrow to set the tone for this next week."
 
While the Hatters (15-22, 5-3 in the ASUN) struggled from the very first inning, Stetson still held a 2-1 lead over KSU (17-18, 6-2) going to the sixth. Stetson took the lead from the Owls in the fifth inning when Jacob Koos delivered a two-out, two-run single off KSU starter A.J. Moore (4-2), scoring Colton Lightner and Nico Torino.
 
That advantage lasted only through the third batter in the sixth inning. Stetson starter Jack Perkins (3-4) struggled with his command all night, walking seven Owls while also allowing eight hits.
 
"Sometimes that happens to a pitcher," Trimper said. "He was grinding out there even though he didn't have great stuff. We got to a 2-1 lead going to the sixth and were hoping to get him through one more inning before going to the bullpen. It just came quick on him with the walk and then the two-out RBI. Before you knew it, we were down 5-2."
 
Perkins walked James Franklin and then, after a stolen base, surrendered an RBI single to Jeremy Howell to tie the game. David Chabut followed with a single to center that Koos misplayed, putting two runners in scoring position. Grant Williams then dropped a bloop double in front of Andrew MacNeil in right to score Howell with the go-ahead run. Garrett Hodges delivered a two-run double for the 5-2 lead.
 
Stetson got a run back in the bottom of the inning when Jack Gonzalez launched his third home run of the year, but the Owls put the game away in the eighth when Taylor Allum blasted a two-run homer, his 12^th, off freshman Mitchell Senger to provide the final margin.
 
One of the most frustrating moments in the game for Trimper came in the second inning when the Hatters had gotten singles from Gonzalez and Arenas to open the inning. A missed sign resulted in Gonzalez being thrown out at third and Moore got a pair of strikeouts to get out of the inning.
 
"We didn't pitch well, we didn't play very good defense and we didn't execute at the plate," Trimper said. "We missed a key sign on a hit and run and we got thrown out at third in a key part of the game when we had the right guys in place and the right pitch coming. Everything worked perfectly except that we missed the sign and that just can't happen.
 
"That is an inexcusable mistake and those cost you games. I hope we can learn from our mistakes and our failures because that is the only thing you can do."
 
Moore recorded six strikeouts in his six innings of work to get the win for the Owls. He allowed the three Stetson runs on six hits. Reliever Gabe Friese worked the final three innings, allowing just one hit with three strikeouts, to get his second save of the year.
 
Five Stetson pitchers combined to issue a season-high 12 walks in the game while also allowing 11 hits – three by Williams and two by Hodges.
 
The Hatters will try to avoid the sweep, and stay even with Kennesaw State in the ASUN race, when the teams meet on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the series finale. Sophomore Logan Gilbert (6-0) will try to remain perfect on the year and follow up on his two-hit, 18-strikeout, effort against FGCU last Sunday.
 
The Owls will counter with senior left-hander Mason Ward (3-2, 3.75).
 
"Everything is important in conference play, and even more so the deeper you get into the season," Trimper said. "They know how important the game will be tomorrow, so it won't be a pressure situation they haven't seen before. It is conference and there is pressure in every game. There will be pressure next week when we get to Upstate.
 
"We have to be focused to execute the little things and do our jobs. They don't have to do anything extraordinary, they just have to do their jobs. Logan can't go out there and try to follow what he did last week, he just has to pitch to his ability."
 
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.