Stetson's bats were as cold as the weather on a chilly Mardi Gras night at Melching Field. The Hatters managed just three hits against Sacred Heart in a 11-4 loss to the Pioneers.
 
The two teams will square off again on Wednesday night, with the first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
 
The Pioneers (3-6) scored in each of the first four innings before blowing the game open with a four-run sixth. The Hatters (4-7) scored all of their runs in the third inning when SHU starter Billy O'Brien loaded the bases thanks to an error and consecutive hit batters.
 
After Noah Dickerson hit a ground ball to short that the Pioneers were unable to convert into an out, Sacred Heart turned to Cooper Thompson (2-1) on the mound. Jonathan Meola greeted the sophomore with a two-run double, but that was it for the next four innings.
 
Thompson blanked the Hatters over 4.2 innings of relief to earn the win. He walked two and struck out six before turning the game over to senior left-hander Jackson Aldam in the eighth.
 
The Hatters added a run in the ninth off senior Brent Teller when Kyle Ball doubled to the wall in left, scoring Jake Murphy, who walked to lead off the inning.
 
Stetson used six pitchers in the game with varying degrees of success. Starter Mitchell Senger (0-3) lasted just 1.1 innings, allowing three runs, just one of which was earned.
 
The Hatters followed with Ryan Stark (1.1 innings, two runs), Mike Materetskey (2.1 innings, one run), Antonio Knowles (0.0 innings, four runs), Danny Garcia (1.1 innings, no runs) and Gavin Sullivan (2.1 innings, one run).
 
Sacred Heart piled up 16 hits in the game with Stephen Thibault, Jake Frasca, Isiah Daubon and Elijah Brown picking up three hits each. Frasca had a pair of doubles in the game and Brown fell just a double short of hitting for the cycle.
 
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.