Senior Jonathan Meola had the kind of day Sunday that players dream about, and his performance came at just the right time for a Stetson team in need of an infusion of good fortune.
 
Meola had three hits, including a pair of doubles, drove in two runs and scored the third to help Stetson to a 3-2 victory over visiting Siena at Melching Field. In addition to his offense, Meola made a pair of "you had to be there to believe it" catches in foul territory as part of a spectacular defensive day.
 
The win snapped Stetson's season-opening losing streak at five games and evened the Hatters' (1-5) four-game series against the Saints (1-4) and one game each. The teams will continue the serie with games scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday evening.
 
Meola's efforts bolstered a strong performance from the Hatters' pitching staff. Sophomore Robbie Peto started and turned in a solid six innings of work, but left with game tied at 2-2. He allowed the two runs, one unearned as the result of his own throwing error, on five hits. He did not walk anyone and struck out five.
 
Freshman Danny Garcia came on in the seventh inning, allowing a walk and a hit, but getting help from the Stetson defense. Junior Andrew MacNeil came charging in on Ryan McGee's single to right and fired a strike to Meola at third to gun down Yasser Santana.
 
Sophomore Nick Chiseri (1-0) came on for Garcia and got a strikeout and a ground ball to get out of the inning with the game still tied.
 
Meola, who doubled home MacNeil in the second inning and singled to plate Mark Townsend in the fourth, led off the bottom of the seventh with his second double of the game. After a sacrifice bunt moved Meola to third, Jorge Arenas singled to drive him home with the go-ahead run.
 
Siena had no plans to go quietly, getting a pair of hits in the eighth inning with the first of Meola's amazing catches wedged in between. Like he did against Oklahoma State in the 2018 NCAA Regional, Meola went flying over the third base dugout railing to make the play, getting a bloody nose as well as an out.
 
Freshman Bret Neilan came on to pitch for Stetson with the tying and go-ahead runs on base, getting a solt liner to short and a ground ball to get out of the inning. Neilan then put the Saints away with a pair of strikeouts, and Meola's second diving catch in foul territory, in the ninth to earn his first collegiate save.
 
Stetson had a season-best nine hits in the game and struck out just three times against Siena starter Brendan White (0-1), who went the distance in the loss.
 
With Neilan having pitched on Sunday, Stetson will likely turn to sophomore right-hander Zemp Schwab to make his first start on Monday. Schwab struck out four in two innings of relief at UCF last Tuesday. Siena is expected to counter with senior right-hander Dylan D'Anna, who struck out five in four innings in his start last weekend at UCF.
 
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.