Stetson sophomore Logan Gilbert had the game of his life on Sunday, and it was just enough as the Hatters defeated Florida Gulf Coast 1-0 to take the weekend ASUN series.
 
The numbers for Gilbert (6-0) were almost obscene. He struck out the first 10 Eagles to step to the plate. He did not allow a single base runner until there were two out in the eighth inning and he finished the day just one punch out shy of tying the all-time Stetson record for strikeouts in a game with 18.
 
But it took a pair of sparkling defensive plays in the ninth inning to preserve the win for the Hatters, who improved to 15-19 overall, but 5-1 in ASUN play with a share of the conference lead after the first two weekends of the season.
 
FGCU, which came into the week ranked in the top 20 in all the national polls, fell to 25-9, 2-4 in league play.
 
"Logan was just phenomenal today," Hatters coach Steve Trimper said. "To go out there and have 18 punch outs with no walks, it was just a phenomenal performance."
 
The 18 strikeouts fell one shy of the all-time Stetson record held by George Tsamis. He had 19 in a game against Bethune-Cookman in 1986.
 
Going into the game, there was concern as to whether Gilbert would be physically able to make it through even five innings, much less go the distance in a two-hit shutout, throwing 135 pitches.
 
"He has been fighting a sore back, so Dave Therneau, our pitching coach, and I had talked about needing to have the bullpen ready because it might be a short day for Logan," Trimper said. "After the first inning, I looked over at Dave and asked 'are you sure he is feeling bad?'"
 
Gilbert opened his outing by striking out the side in the first inning. That is something he has done now in three consecutive starts. He followed that by striking out the side in order in the second and again in the third. Overall, he struck out 10 straight to start the game before Julio Gonzalez flew out to left for the second out of the fourth inning.
 
"At first, when he got through two innings with six Ks, I thought he was on," junior catcher Austin Hale said. "Then, when he got three three with nine we knew we were in a scrap. I knew in the back of my mind that this was going to be a game we couldn't lose."
 
The strikeouts continued to pile up for Gilbert. He blew past his previous career-high of 12 in the fifth inning and then struck out two more in the sixth. He went through the seventh without a strikeout, but retired the Eagles in order, meaning he had faced the minimum to that point.
 
"I felt pretty good after the first inning, and then again in the second," Gilbert said. "After that, I didn't think about it much because I was focused on what batter was up and what pitch I needed to throw. I have to give a lot of credit to Hale because he called a great game, as always."
 
Even with all the strikeouts, Gilbert said he didn't realize he had a something extra special going until the seventh.
 
"I knew I had quite a few strikeouts, but I started to think that I hadn't been in the stretch," Gilbert said. "That was when it hit me that something was going on. It was the sixth or seventh inning when I realized that no one was talking to me. It was pretty funny at the time."
 
Gilbert lost his bid for a perfect game with two out in the eighth. After striking out the first two in the inning, he hit Alex Brait on the shoulder with a 1-1 pitch. He followed up with a strikeout of Marc Coffers to end the inning.
 
"It would've been a heck of a game to watch if I were on the other side," FGCU coach Dave Tollett said. "Hats off to Logan Gilbert. He threw a heck of a game and was special today. Pitching was the story all weekend, and we got another old-fashioned duel today. Stetson was able to manufacture a run when they got the chance, and we weren't."
 
The only run in the game crossed the plate in the fifth inning. FGCU senior right-hander Garrett Anderson (2-1) turned in a performance worthy of getting a win, but his only base on balls cost him that chance. He walked Jorge Arenas with one out in the fifth and Hale followed with a hit-and-run single to get Arenas to third base. Sophomore Kirk Sidwell hit a high bouncer over the mound for a force play, but he was able to beat the relay throw to allow Arenas to score.
 
Anderson allowed just four hits in the game in pitching a complete game himself.
 
With the no-hitter still in tact, FGCU junior Gage Morey led off the ninth with a triple to the gap in right center. The blast not only ended the no-hit bid, but also threated to take the Hatters' slim lead.
 
Hale said Logan reacted perfectly after allowing the hit.
 
"He was very upbeat when we went to the mound and Lightner came in and reminded everyone to watch for the safety squeeze," Hale said. "I told Logan he was fine and that we were going to execute to win the game."
 
Eli Lovell came up with a chance to tie the game, but hit a hot grounder to Lightner at third. Morey was running on contact and Lightner came home, getting him into a run down before getting the out.
 
"I was surprised that they ran, but that was a big out," Hale said.
 
While it was a big play for the Hatters to get that out, the bigger play was still to come.
 
Matt Reardon gave FGCU life again with a solid single to right, moving pinch-runner Cameron Krzeminski to third base with just one out, bringing Gonzalez to the plate with Eagles' slugger Nick Rivera looming in the on deck circle.
 
Rivera never got a chance. Gonzalez hit a line shot right at Lightner, who dove head-first to the bag at third after making the catch to double up Krzeminski and seal the Stetson win.
 
"Lovell had hit the ball to me earlier in the series, so I knew he was a pull hitter," Lightner said. "I made the throw home and Hale executed the rundown perfectly.
 
"The next one just happened. It was one of those plays that you run through in your mind before it happens. I actually thought that, if they hit a line drive at me, I would go to first base. Then, when it happen, I just reacted. I am not sure what happened, but we won, and that is all that mattered."
 
Gilbert said he owed Lightner a big thank you.
 
"When you have a guy like Colton playing behind you, you know he is going to make plays for you," Gilbert said. "It is hard to say that I expected something like that, because that is how crazy it was, but that is who Light is and those are the kinds of plays he makes."
 
For Stetson, the win capped a roller-coaster week that started with controversy in Gainesville and ended with a dramatic series victory over rival FGCU.
 
"This was a great team win," Trimper said. "We executed a hit and run to get the run in and then, in the last inning we made a couple of great plays. These wins are great because they mean everything. It doesn't matter who you play, but being 5-1 in conference after playing one of the top 20 teams in the country, that is a big deal."
 
Lightner said the Hatters learned something about themselves during the week.
 
"This week proved that we are just as good as anybody," Lightner said. "We have known we were this good for a while but to see what we did at Florida, have a close game at UCF and then three great games against FGCU, was awesome."
 
Hale agreed.
 
"This was a great week for us," Hale said. "We beat the crap out of Florida, and I would like to have my two-for-three with a home run back on my stats. We battled with UCF and then the games against Gulf Coast. Friday was a great game, and so was Saturday. They were all great college baseball games. We had a great crowd here on a Sunday, and that is all you can ask for."
 
The Hatters will be back at home on Tuesday night when another top quality opponent comes in for a visit. South Florida improved to 27-5 on the year with a weekend sweep of UCF and almost guaranteed to be ranked in the top 20 when the Bulls arrive in DeLand.
 
Stetson fans are encouraged to wear their cowboy hats as the Hatters look to wrangle the Bulls. The game is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch.

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.