During his first two starts of the 2018 season, Logan Gilbert pitched well, but not as well as he would have liked.
 
There was just something missing from his repertoire on the mound. His breaking ball just wasn't quite where he wanted it to be.
 
With the flip of the calendar from February to March, the big right-handers' slider returned to form. With it, and his always overpower fast ball, he dominated Virginia Tech for eight innings on Friday night, recording 13 strikeouts while allowing just two hits and one walk in a 2-1 Stetson victory.
 
The Hatters improved to 7-1 on the year with the win while dropping the Hokies to 3-6. Purdue also improved to 7-1 on the season earlier in the day with an 11-1 victory over Central Michigan in the opening game of the 2018 Westin Lake Mary Stetson Invitational.
 
Virginia Tech will square off against Purdue on Saturday at 1 p.m. to start day two while Stetson will host the Chippewas (2-6-1) in a 7 p.m. game.
 
Gilbert's only troubles came in the third inning when Cam Irvine doubled to left and then scored on a single by Nick Owens that ended in a collision at the plate as Irvin and the ball arrived to catcher Austin Hale at the same instant. Following the Owens hit, Gilbert (2-0) retired 16 of the next 17 Hokies, with just one walk in the middle.
 
Senior Brooks Wilson came on to pitch a perfect ninth inning, with two strikeouts, to earn his fourth save of the year.
 
Gilbert's final line for the night read eight innings, allowing just the one run on two hits with one walk and 13 strikeouts.
 
The only support Gilbert needed in the game came from a two-run homer in the fifth inning off Hokies starter Connor Coward (0-1). The home run came from the most unlikely source – off the bat of junior Jacob Koos. The Hatters' normal leadoff hitter has hit in the No. 2 spot in the lineup and followed a leadoff single by Mike Spooner with a shot to right.
 
It was the first home run of Koos' collegiate career.
 
Coward went the distance for the Hokies, who lost 2-1 for the second time this year in one of his starts. He allowed just the two runs on five hits, walked three and struck out six.
 
The Hatters left runners in scoring position in the first, third and fourth inning and then, after getting the go-ahead home run, did not have another batter reach base as Coward retired the final 12 he faced.
 
Stetson will send junior right-hander Jack Perkins (1-1) to the mound on Saturday, looking to bounce back from a disappointing performance in his last outing against George Washington. The Chippewas will counter with junior right-hander Pat Leatherman (0-2).

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.