Even though it wasn't the prettiest of games, the Stetson Hatters did what they needed to do on Friday night at Melching Field to take an 8-4 series opening victory over visiting George Washington.
 
The Hatters (5-0) will try to make it six straight wins to start the season on Saturday when the face the Colonials (0-4) in game two of the series. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
 
Stetson jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning off GW starter Brady Renner (0-1), getting a leadoff single from Jacob Koos and a one-out RBI double from Baylen Sparks. After a ground ball to third base was booted for an error, Sparks came in to score on a wild pitch.
 
That was where Stetson starter Logan Gilbert (1-0) kept things until the fourth inning. Steven Barmakian led off that inning with a perfect bunt hit down the third base line. He advanced to second on an errant pickoff throw and then scored on a two-out single by Robbie Metz.
 
The Hatters answered right back in the home half of the inning off GW reliever Kevin Hodgson. A pair of walks set the stage for sophomore Andrew MacNeil, who blasted a two-out, three-run, home run to right, pushing the Stetson advantage to 5-1.
 
Gilbert continued to work through the sixth inning, despite surrendering a solo home run to Mark Osis to start that frame. He came back to get the next two Colonials on strikes before ending the inning on a ground out. Gilbert finished the night allowing two earned runs on seven hits with one walk and 10 strikeouts.
 
GW struck for two runs in the seventh inning off senior reliever Ben Onyshko, although both were unearned. Mark Cosentino opened the inning with a fly ball to left center, but miscommunication between Jacob Koos and Austin Bogart led to Koos dropping the ball for a two-base error. Two outs later, Barmakian delivered a two-run double, cutting the Hatters' lead to 5-4.
 
Stetson again answered in the bottom of the inning, scoring three times to put the game away. Mike Spooner got things going by drawing a two-out walk from Chance Malek. Jack Gonzalez followed with a pinch-hit single and then Jorge Arenas plated a run with a hit to left.
 
After Austin Hale was hit by a pitch to load the bases, the Colonials brought in Tyler Swiggart to face Jonathan Meola. The junior greeted him with a two-run single, putting Stetson up 8-4.
 
Senior Brooks Wilson was already warm in the pen expecting to face a save situation, so he came on to pitch the final two frames. He struck out the Colonials in order in the eighth and then worked around another error, the third of the night, a single and a walk to strike out the side in the ninth to finish off the victory.
 
With his six strikeouts, Wilson now has 254 in his career, good for sixth on the all-time Stetson list.
 
Arenas and Sparks led the Stetson attack with two hits each. Barmakian, Osis and Metz had two hits apiece for the Colonials while Brandon Chapman had three.
 
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.