After struggling to split a double-header with visiting Rhode Island on Saturday, and then spotting the Rams an early 5-1 lead on Sunday, the Stetson Hatter put together their best offensive performance of the year in a 17-6 series clinching win.
 
The game was called after eight innings. Stetson improved to 17-3 on the season while the Rams fell to 4-14.
 
The Hatters scored in each of the first four innings, using a six-run outburst in the fourth to take the lead after the Rams scored five times in the second inning off Stetson starter Mitchell Senger. It was the first sub-par outing of the year for the sophomore left-hander, who worked just 2.2 innings, allowing the five runs on five hits with four walks.
 
A trio of young Stetson hurlers had his back, however, as sophomore Erik Wiebke (1-0) and Ryan Stark teamed with freshman Austin Wood to allow just one more run on two hits over the final 5.1 innings of the game.
 
Wiebke, who missed the entire 2017 campaign, earned his first win since March 2, 2016.
 
While the Stetson bullpen was holding things down on the mound, the Hatters went to work against a worn down Rhode Island staff. Starter Jake Walker allowed three earned runs in two innings of work before being pulled in the third inning with two runners on. Reliever Mark Silvestri (0-1) got out of that inning, allowing just one unearned run to score before the Hatters lowered the boom on him in the fourth.
 
In a big inning that never should have happened, the Hatters scored six unearned run thanks to a throwing error on a ground ball that should have been the final out. Nico Torino and Baylen Sparks followed with back-to-back doubles before Jorge Arenas capped the inning with a two-run home run.
 
URI closed to within 10-6 in the seventh inning with consecutive two-out doubles from Sonny Ulliana and Jackson Coutts off Stark, but Wood put down any further rally, getting the final out of the frame on one pitch. The freshman then struck out the side in the eighth inning.
 
The Hatters scored a single run in the seventh on a Mike Spooner double to score Jacob Koos, who had led off the inning with a hit and then stole second, one of three bags in the game.
 
In the eighth, with the game hard up against a travel curfew, the Hatters added insult to injury by scoring six more runs while sending 12 batters to the plate. The big blow in the frame was a three run double by Jonathan Meola off URI side-winder Tyler Brosius. Jack Gonzalez added an RBI single later in the frame.
 
Stetson equaled its season-high for hits with 14 and posted the most runs in a game since a 17-0 win over Bethune-Cookman in 2015.
 
Koos, Spooner, Sparks, Arneas and Brooks Wilson all had two hits in the game for Stetson, which also had a season-high six doubles in the game – the most in a game since posting seven against USC Upstate last year.
 
Ulliana was the only URI player with more than one hit as the Hatters limited the Rams to seven in the game.
 
The Hatters will close out their longest ever home stand on Wednesday night when they host FIU (10-11) at 6:30 p.m. Te Panthers have a home game against ASUN member FGCU on Tuesday before making the trek to DeLand.
 
Stetson will be on the road for the first time next weekend for a three-game series at Maryland (9-10), which was swept in a series this weekend at East Carolina. The Terrapins play at North Carolina on Tuesday and at Elon on Wednesday before hosting the Hatters.
 
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.