Kennesaw, Ga. – Nothing came easy for the Stetson baseball team on Saturday at Stillwell Stadium but, the bottom line for the Hatters was that they escaped with a 7-6 victory over Kennesaw State to even the weekend series at one game each.
 
The Hatters (24-7, 1-1 in ASUN play) and Owls (16-15, 3-2) will get together again on Sunday to decide the weekend. First pitch for the rubber game is set for 1 p.m.
 
With temperatures dropping into the 40s during the game, and winds gusting at up to 15 miles per hour from the northwest, it felt more like February than early April, but the weather was the only thing that was cold.
 
The teams combined to produce 25 hits on the day, with 13 walks thrown in for good measure. Stetson starting pitcher Jack Perkins (4-2) had just one 1-2-3 inning and reliever Brooks Wilson left the bases loaded three times in route to his 13^th save of the year.
 
The Owls used seven pitchers in the game to try to keep the Hatters in check. Starter Nathan Dupree allowed four runs on seven hits in his four innings of work. The first reliever in for KSU, junior left-hander Cooper Mayhall (0-2) allowed the two runs that put Stetson in the lead for good.
 
As was the case on Friday, KSU did much of its damage with two out in an inning, with four of their six runs coming after the second out was recorded. The only inning that wasn't the case was the first after David Chabut started the day with a hit. After an out and a walk, Griffin Helms singled home the first run of the day. Jake Franklin followed with a ground out to plate another run for a 2-0 Owls lead.
 
The Hatters answered quickly, scoring four runs in the second. Wilson walked to start things and moved up on a bunt hit by Nico Torino. Wilson moved up on a deep fly ball before Torino took second on a wild pitch. After Austin Bogart walked to load the bases, Austin Hale delivered an RBI single.
 
Jonathan Meola followed with a bloop hit to right to score a run and then a Mike Spooner ground ball scored two more when the Owls' relay throw on a double-play attempt went awry, allowing Hale to score on the play.
 
The 4-2 Stetson lead lasted until the fourth inning when KSU started chipping away. Garrett Hodges got things started with a two-out solo blast to right in the fourth. In the fifth Tyler Simon produced a one-out double and scored three batters later on a two-out hit by Franklin to tie the game at 4-4.
 
Stetson answered right away, scoring twice in the sixth after Mayhall walked Torino to open the inning and Baylen Sparks followed with a double. KSU called on Marty Horn from the bullpen and Bogart greeted him with a sacrifice fly to put the Hatters back in the lead. Hale followed with his third hit of the day to drive in Sparks for a 6-4 lead.
 
The Owls chased Perkins in the sixth, but not until he retired the first two batters in the inning. Daniel Seres started the Owls rally with a hit, which was followed by a hit from Chalbut. Wilson came in for Stetson, but surrendered a single to Simon, loading the bases, before walking Grant Williams to force in a run. Wilson got Helms on strikes to end the inning and leave the bases loaded.
 
Stetson had a chance to build on its lead in the seventh, but left the bases loaded. The Hatters were able to add an important run in the ninth thanks to the speed of Koos. He walked to open the inning, stole second, went to third on a passed ball and then scored on a wild pitch, giving the Hatters a 7-5 lead.
 
That run proved to be crucial.
 
Terrence Normal led off the ninth for the Owls with an infield hit. After Wilson retired Hodges on strikes, Forrest Bramlett singled, putting the tying runs on base. Another strikeout brought the Hatters to within one out of the win. That last out proved hard to get.
 
Chabut reached on an infield single to load the bases before Simon hit an easy chopper in front of the plate. Wilson fielded and flipped to Hale at the plate, but the umpire ruled Hale never stepped on the plate, allowing Norman to score.
 
With the tying run at third and winning run at second, Wilson got Williams to hit a ground ball to first to clinch the win.
 
Combined, Perkins and Wilson struck out 13 and, more importantly, stranded 15 Owls on base. Hale had a season-best three hits to lead Stetson while Torino picked up two. Chabut led KSU with four hits and Simon added three.
 
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.