On a day when no one went home happy, the Stetson Hatters got a walk-off single from sophomore Andrew MacNeil in the 11^th inning to salvage the second game of a double-header with a 3-2 victory over Rhode Island.
 
The Rams took the opening game of the day by a final of 6-5.
 
Stetson (16-3) will try to win the four-game series outright on Sunday at noon. Rhode Island (4-13) will try to get a split.
 
Game 1 – Rhode Island 6, Stetson 5
 
The Hatters dug themselves a deep hole in the opening game, and still almost managed to rally for the win. Stetson starter Joey Gonzalez (4-1) surrendered a run for the first time this season in the opening inning on a two-out single by Sonny Ulliana. The Rams added an unearned run in the third after a throwing error allowed the leadoff runner to reach base. Jackson Coutts singled home that run for a 2-0 URI lead.
 
That appeared to be all the support Rams pitcher Vitaly Jangols (2-2) would need. He allowed just one hit through the first four innings while coaxing the Hatters into a lot of easy fly ball outs, a trend that would continue through the night.
 
URI added to its lead in the fifth when Ulliana doubled off reliever Vlad Nunez with two out and then scored on a single by Kevin Heiss. That lead grew to 6-0 in the sixth when Nunez hit a batter and walked another before a throwing error allowed in a run. Austin White greeted freshman Chris Gonzalez with a two-run double for the 6-0 Rams lead.
 
Stetson started chipping away in the bottom of the inning, finally getting to Jangols. After Austin Hale was hit by a pitch, Brooks Wilson delivered an RBI double. The next inning, Andrew MacNeil and Kyle Ball delivered consecutive singles before Nico Torino chased Jangols from the mound with a three-run homer, cutting the deficit to 6-4.
 
Jacob Koos welcomed reliever Nick Robinson with a single and then went all the way to third on a pickoff attempt gone awry. After a pair of fly ball outs and a walk failed to get the run in, Wilson delivered again with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 6-5.
 
Stetson had chanced to tie the game in both the eighth and ninth inning, but the Hatters were unable to get another big hit. The tying run was stranded at third base when Tyler Barss closed out the game with a strikeout to pick up his first save of the year.
 
The Hatters finished the game with 10 hits, including two each from Wilson, Jorge Arenas and MacNeil. Ulliana had three of the eight hits in the game for the Rams.
 
Game 2 – Stetson 3, Rhode Island 2 (11 innings)
 
The Hatters continued to struggle offensively in the night-cap, managing just two hits through the first seven innings against URI starter Dom Grillo and reliever Cam LaFleur.
 
While the Hatters struggled against the two left-handers, the Rams were again able to take advantage of a Stetson error to take an early lead. After a one-out error in the third inning gave Rhode Island extra time, the Rams got a single from Coutts and a two-run double from Ulliana to plate a pair of unearned runs off Stetson starter Jack Perkins.
 
It appeared those two runs would stand up, but the Rams returned the favor in the eighth inning, committing a one-out error to open the door for Stetson. After a pinch hit single by Baylen Sparks put two on with two out, Jacob Koos and Mike Spooner both delivered RBI singles off Nick Johnson to tie the game at 2-2.
 
A fly ball out, one of 12 in the game and 26 on the day, left the potential winning runs in scoring position. Stetson had chances to win the game again in the ninth and 10^th innings, but left runners in scoring position in both frames.
 
Wilson (1-0) meanwhile, was keeping the Rams at bay on the mound. After working the ninth inning of the first game, with two strikeouts, he worked three more shutout frames in the nightcap, recording six more strikeouts in the process.
 
URI had a chance to take the lead against Wilson in the 10^th on consecutive one-out singles by Jordan Powell and Alex Santos, but Spooner cut down any chance at a rally by gunning Powell down at third on the Santos single to right.
 
In the bottom of the 11^th, it was Wilson who reached on a one-out single off Barss (0-3) before stealing second base to get into scoring position. MacNeil fell behind in the count, 1-2, before lacing a hit down the left-field line, scoring Wilson from second with the winning run.
 
Wilson picked up his first win of the year and scored the winning run while picking up two more hits in the game. Powell had three hits to lead the URI attack.
 
Sunday's game time was moved up one hour, to a noon start, due to Rhode Island's travel plans for after the game.
 
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.