On a sun-filled Wednesday afternoon, the Stetson baseball team scored three runs in the eighth inning at Melching Field, breaking a 2-2 tie against South Florida, and went on to take a 5-2 victory over the visiting Bulls.
 
The win for Stetson (25-8) snapped a modest two-game losing streak and clinched a season-series sweep over USF (21-12).
 
Stetson executed to perfecting in the eighth inning to break the tie. Leadoff hitter Jacob Koos drew a walk from Bulls' reliever Graham Hoffman (0-1) and Baylen Sparks followed with a perfect sacrifice bunt to move Koos into scoring position.
 
USF brought in left-handed pitcher Kevin King, the seventh hurler of the day for the Bulls, to face Mike Spooner. On the second pitch, Spooner hit a hot shot, that took a big late hop past first baseman Joe Genord down the right field line for an RBI double and a 3-2 Stetson lead.
 
Jorge Arenas followed the Spooner double with a double of his own, down the left field line, to make it 4-2. Arenas advanced to third on a wild pitch and then came in to score when Brooks Wilson bunted back to King, who proceeded to throw the ball away, allowing Arenas to score.
 
Wilson (2-0), who came on to get the final out in the eighth inning for Stetson, retired the Bulls in order in the ninth to clinch the win.
 
Both teams used the day as a bull pen game, with five pitchers working for Stetson against the seven for USF. Freshman Chris Gonzalez made his first collegiate start for the Hatters, allowing a run on three hits over 2 2/3 innings. Austin Wood followed, allowing a run on two hits over two innings with sixth strikeouts. Senior Ben Onyshko worked the next 2 1/3 innings before Vlad Nunez got two outs in the eighth.
 
Stetson scored a pair of runs against USF starter Baron Stuart in his 2 1/3 innings. After USF scored in the top of the first on a two-out single by Genord, scoring David Villar, the Hatters answered in the bottom of the inning. Koos drew a walk to start, stole second and then went to third on a wild pitch. Arenas drove him home with the first of his three hits in the game.
 
Baylen Sparks put Stetson up 2-1 in the third when he walked, stole second, moved up on a ground ball and then scored on a wild pitch.
 
USF tied the game in the fifth when Garrett Zech took advantage of the bright sun, hitting a towering fly ball in the infield that none of the Hatters could find against the bright blue sky. By the time the ball landed, about 15 feet in front of the plate, Zech was at second with an infield double.
 
The speedy younger brother of former Hatter Kyle Zech stole third and scored on a passed ball.
 
Arenas led Stetson offensively, producing three of the five Hatters hits in the game. Villar had a pair of doubles for USF and Chris Chatfield also had two hits for the Bulls, who had seven in the game. Combined, the two teams struck out 25 times on the day.
 
Stetson will be back in action on Friday when the Hatters open a three-game ASUN series against Lipscomb. The games are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday. All three games are scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN3.
 
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.