Lubbock, Texas – The first month of the 2019 college baseball season has not gone as well for the Stetson squad as the Hatters had hoped going into the campaign.
 
But the Hatters have a huge opportunity to turn things around this weekend when they square off against a pair of nationally-ranked foes. The Hatters will face No. 24 Michigan on Saturday and No. 19 Texas Tech on Sunday in Monday at Rip Griffin Park.
 
Both games against Texas Tech will be available through Texas Tech TV. There will be no video stream of the game against Michigan.
 
The Hatters (8-12) have struggled offensively and defensively in losing three of their last four games, but having an opportunity to travel to a new place to face two ranked opponents might serve as a an opportunity for the squad to get things turned around before beginning ASUN play next week.
 
Stetson will also have the advantage during the weekend, with the Red Raiders (13-5) and Wolverines (14-5) squaring off against each other three times before squaring off against the Hatters. Texas Tech took an 11-2 victory over Michigan on Thursday night to open the long weekend.
 
The trip to Texas marks just the sixth time in Stetson baseball history for a Hatters team to travel as far west as the Lone Star State. Although Stetson and Texas Tech have never squared off before, the Hatters are 3-3 all-time against schools from Texas, including a 4-3 loss to Sam Houston State during the opening weekend this year.
 
The Hatters have an 11-5 all-time series lead over Michigan and are 42-16 all-time against teams from that state.
 
Stetson will stick with a rotation for the weekend of redshirt sophomore Robbie Peto (0-3, 3.80) against Michigan on Saturday with freshmen Daniel Paret (0-0, 5.79) and Bret Neilan (1-1 3.86) scheduled to start the two games against Texas Tech.
 
The Hatters enter the weekend hitting just .226 as a team with just freshman E.J. Doskow (.308) and junior Austin Bogart (.306) hitting at better than .300. Defensively, the Hatters have already committed 34 errors this year after setting a program record for fielding percentage in 2018.
 
The Hatters will also be without one of its best players for the weekend. Senior third baseman Jonathan Meola, who leads the team with eight doubles, was injured prior to the game at FIU and is out indefinitely.
 
With Meola out of action, senior Baylen Sparks has taken over primary duties at third base.
 
Stetson is also still without sophomore RHP Austin Wood, who has appeared in just three games so far this season. There is no time table set for his return and, if his absence continues, he could take a medical redshirt for this year as well.
 
Following the trip to Texas, the Hatters will return home to Melching Field on Wednesday night next week for the first of two games against South Florida. Stetson will then hit the road again, opening ASUN conference play at North Alabama next weekend.
 
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.