Nashville, Tenn. – The Stetson baseball team had plenty of opportunities to put runs on the board Saturday afternoon at Lipscomb's Ken Dugan Field, but the Hatters left eight runners in scoring position in dropping a 5-3 decision to the host Bisons.
Stetson (18-24, 7-7) will try to avoid getting swept in the series, and attempt to snap a season-high tying five-game losing skid, when the teams meet again on Sunday. Lipscomb (23-19, 7-7) has now moved into a three-way tie with the Hatters and Kennesaw State for fourth place in the ASUN standings.
Despite not getting a hit until the fifth inning on Saturday, the Hatters were matched in a 1-1 game early as Lipscomb sophomore Noah Thompson (3-4) dueled with Stetson freshman
Daniel Paret (3-2).
The Hatters got on the board in the first inning thanks to two walks, a double steal and a wild pitch. Lipscomb manufactured a run of its own in the second, getting a single from Zeke Dodson, a sacrifice bunt and a stolen base, along with a walk to put runners on the corners with two out. Ty Jones broke for second and got into a run down long enough for Dodson to scamper home to tie the game.
That was where things stayed until the fifth inning. With two outs on the board, the Bisons got consecutive singles from Caz Bertolani and Brian Moore to bring leadoff hitter Haddon Adams to the plate. After falling behind 0-2 in his at bat, Adams connected with a pitch over the plate for a three-run homer and a 4-1 lead.
In the sixth inning, with freshman
Bret Neilan on the mound for the Hatters, Tevin Symonette hit a line drive out to left on a full count pitch to push the Bisons lead to 5-1.
Stetson got runners into scoring position against Thompson in the fourth and fifth innings before loading the bases in the sixth. With two out, Thompson got out of that jam, getting freshman
E.J. Doskow on a called third strike to end the frame.
Stetson cut the deficit in the seventh, ending Thompson's day.
Benito Varela reached on a pinch-hit single with one out before
Jacob Koos drew a walk. The Bisons bround on Caleb Brenczewski to face
Kyle Ball, and the sophomore welcomed him to the game with an RBI double.
Jorge Arenas followed with a sacrifice fly, but Brenczewski got
Eric Foggo on the fly ball to right to end the inning.
Lipscomb closer Robbie Knox came on to work the final two innings. He retired the first five batters he faced before Koos beat out an infield single and Ball followed with a double with two out in the ninth. Knox then got Arenas to fly out to left, ending the game and earning his seventh save of the year.
The Hatters managed just six hits in the game, but four of them were doubles, including two by Ball. Dodson led Lipscomb with two of the Bisons' seven hits.
Sunday's series finale is scheduled for a noon start local time, 1 p.m. in DeLand, and will be available on ESPN+.
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.
