The Stetson Hatters bounced back on Wednesday night to take the final game of their two-game mid-week series against Sacred Heart 8-5.
 
The Hatters improved to 5-7 on the year with the win while dropping the Pioneers to 3-7.
 
After SHU took a 1-0 lead in the fourth, Junior Jorge Arenas sparked the first of a pair of three-run innings for Stetson with a two-run home run off Pioneers starter Justin Jordan (0-1) in the fifth inning. The blast, the first of the year for Arenas, was followed by consecutive hits by Jacob Koos and Baylen Sparks to give Stetson a 3-1 lead.
 
The Hatters added an unearned run in the sixth off reliever Baylor Sundahl when Andrew MacNeil singled and advanced to second when Elijah Brown misplayed the ball in right. MacNeil stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Eric Foggo.
 
Sacred Heart answered in the seventh off relievers Vlad Nunez and Austin Wood. Nunez allowed a hit and then hit a batter before getting a strikeout. Wood came in and allowed an RBI single to Austin Markmann but then appeared to get out of the inning when Anthony Porrino hit a soft line drive to second. Kyle Ball made the catch and threw to first, but Foggo was unable to come up with the ball cleanly, allowing Stephen Thibault to score on the play.
 
Stetson answered in the bottom of the inning, adding three more runs off Sundahl. Austin Dilbert opened the frame with his first collegiate hit and then scored on a double by Koos. Sparks followed with another RBI single before Austin Bogart doubled him home for a 7-3 Stetson lead.
 
The Hatters added a run in the eighth when Arenas doubled home Ball, who had singled with one out.
 
That run proved to be important because the Pioneers rallied in the ninth, scoring a pair of runs after Wood walked the first two hitters in the frame. Bret Neilan came on and got a ground ball, but an error allowed a run to score from second. After a hit loaded the bases, Neilan got a double play ground ball, which scored a second run, but got the Hatters within an out of the win.
 
A walk brought the tying run to the plate, but Neilan put the game away with a strikeout.
 
Arenas was one of four Hatters with two hits in the game – joining Koos, Sparks and Bogart – and also drove home three. Markmann, Isiah Daubon, Porrino and Alex Perry had two hits each for the Pioneers.
 
Sophomore Chris Gonzalez (1-0) earned the victory for the Hatters. He worked 5.2 innings in is second consecutive solid start, allowing just one run on six hits with a walk and seven strikeouts.
 
The Hatters will return to action on Friday night at Melching Field when they open a three-game series against Maryland (7-4) from the Big Ten Conference. The first pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in what promises to be an outstanding pitching battle between Stetson's Robbie Peto (0-1, 2.30) and Maryland's Hunter Parsons (2-0, 1.35).
 
The series will continue on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and will conclude on Sunday at 1 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.