The Stetson Hatters were their own worst enemies on Friday night at Melching Field, committing six errors in the series opener against Yale in a 13-3 loss.
 
The six errors were the most in a game for Stetson (7-10) since the 2014 season. The Hatters had two such games that year.
 
It wasn't just the defense that let the Hatters down in the game. Stetson pitchers combined to allow 16 hits, walked seven, hit three and committed a balk.
 
All that while Yale (4-9) starting pitcher Scott Politz (3-1) gave the Bulldogs a strong performance on the mound. Politz worked seven innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with just one walk and 11 strikeouts to get the win.
 
Yale took advantage of Hatters' mistakes right from the start, scoring a pair of runs in the first inning off Stetson starter Robbie Peto (0-3) despite getting just one hit. Peto hit two batters, walked one, had an error of his own on an errant pickoff throw and gave up a two-out single to Cal Christofori for a 2-0 Yale lead.
 
The Bulldogs made it 6-0 in the third after a walk, single and error on a sacrifice bunt loaded the bases. Teddy Hague unloaded the bags with a blast to right, his first home run and first runs batted in of the year.
 
Stetson had its one major highlight in the third inning when Andrew MacNeil lined a shot just over the leaping grasp of Hague in right. Hague crashed to the ground and didn't get up, allowing MacNeil to round the bases for an inside the park home run. Jorge Arenas, who had a hit earlier in the inning, scored on the play.
 
Yale answered by scoring two runs in each of the next three innings before Stetson was able to get another run in the board in the sixth on a Bruce Martin single, scoring Noah Dickerson.
 
Stetson finished the night with nine hits – two each from MacNeil and Dickerson. Yale's 16-hit attack was led by Dai Dai Otaka, who had four hits and drove in three. The grand slam from Hague was the only extra-base hit in the game for the Bulldogs.
 
The two teams will return to Melching Field on Saturday for the second game of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
 
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.