Coming off a weekend sweep of Manhattan to start the season, the Stetson Hatters will continue their 21-game home stand to start the 2018 season when they host UCF tonight at Melching Field.

The game is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch.

After snapping a streak of five straight opening day losses, the Hatters will look to snap another losing skid, this one 12 games in length against the Knights. The last time Stetson defeated UCF on the diamond was May 2, 2007. 

Stetson will send junior right-hander Joey Gonzalez to the mound for his first start of the season. He will be opposed by UCF junior right-hander Thad Ward, who was also the starter last year when the Hatters and Knights met in Orlando.

Stetson got dominant pitching over the weekend in sweeping Manhattan. The Hatters held the Jaspers to just nine hits in the series while recording 40 strikeouts in 27 innings, an average of 1.48 per inning.

Offensively, senior catcher Austin Hale got off to a fast start at the plate, batting .500 for the weekend with a home run and three RBI. Newcomers Bruce Martin, Baylen Sparks and Jonathan Meola all also got off to fast starts, combining to hit .346 over the weekend.

The Knights opened the season at home by hosting a tournament with nationally-ranked Virginia as well as Rice and Samford. UCF opened with a win over the Cavaliers before dropping close games to the Owls and Bulldogs.

This is the first game of a home-and-home season series for the Hatters and Knights. Stetson will play at UCF on April 3.

Stetson will continue its home-stand this weekend, hosting George Washington (0-3) for a three-game series, starting Friday night at 6:30 p.m.

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.