It had been six years since the last time a Stetson baseball team defeated Florida State. That run of 15 consecutive losses to the Seminoles came to an end Tuesday night at Melching Field.
 
Stetson jumped out to an early lead in front of a crowd of 2,121 fans who were almost equally split in their rooting interests and then held on late for a 5-3 victory.
 
With the win the Hatters improved to 31-11 on the year while FSU, ranked 14^th in the USA Today Coaches Poll this week, slipped to 29-13.
 
Hatters junior right-hander Joey Gonzalez (7-3) gave another sparking performance in adding FSU to his list of victims this year. After taking a loss at FSU last week, he held the power-hitting Seminoles to just one run on five hits through seven innings of work with six strikeouts.
 
While he was keeping the Seminoles' bats quiet, the Hatters chipped away against FSU starter Austin Pollock (3-4). Stetson scored single runs in the first two innings and then two more in the fourth. The Seminoles were their own worst enemies in the game, committing five errors which resulted in three unearned runs.
 
Stetson got on the board early when Brooks Wilson dumped a two-out single into left, scoring Baylen Sparks. The Hatters added a run in the second on three consecutive hits from Jorge Arenas, Mike Spooner and Sparks.
 
FSU cut the Stetson lead to 2-1, getting a two-out single from Rhett Aplin in the third to score Mike Salvatore. Austin Hale made sure that was all the 'Noles would get in the inning by throwing out Aplin trying to steal on the back end of a strikeout, throw out double play.
 
Hale showed off his arm again in the fourth inning, back-picking to second base to nail Nick Derr, who had reached on a two-out double.
 
Stetson used the momentum from those plays to tack on a pair of runs in the fourth inning, thanks in large part to a pair of FSU errors. Jacob Koos made those mistakes hurt with a two-run double into the left field corner for a 4-1 Hatters lead.
 
The Hatters added an insurance run in the seventh inning off reliever Clayton Kwiatkowski, who walked three straight Stetson hitters with one out before being replaced by Conor Grady. Eric Foggo delivered a sacrifice fly to score Wilson from third, but the Hatters were denied two more runs when Austin Hale's sinking liner to center was ruled a catch to end the inning. Video replay clearly showed the ball was trapped.
 
Gonzalez went back to the mound in the eighth inning with a 5-1 lead, but surrendered a walk and then a single to center before being replaced by Wilson.
 
The Stetson closer got a strikeout of Aplin to open his outing, then allowed consecutive walks, both on full counts and both on pitches that could have gone the other way, forcing in a run. Albert delivered a sacrifice fly to make it 5-3, but Wilson got a fly ball to end the inning.
 
In the ninth, the Seminoles didn't go down easy. A single by Salvatore with one out give FSU life as Wilson faced the top of the Seminoles order. He struck out Steven Wells, who was named national player of the week earlier in the day, before hitting Jackson Lueck. Aplin came to the plate with a chance to tie, but Wilson struck him out to end the game and secure his 15^th save of the year.
 
Spooner and Sparks had two hits each to lead Stetson. Salvatore and Cal Raleigh had two hits each to lead FSU.
 
The Hatters will turn their focus back to ASUN play this weekend when they travel to Jacksonville for a three game series against North Florida. Friday's series opener is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start from Harmon Stadium, which is the host for the 2018 ASUN Tournament.
 
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.