Tampa, Fla. – Stetson's struggles continued on Tuesday night at USF as the Bulls took a 6-4 victory over the Hatters, snapping a four-game losing skid in the series.
Stetson, which has now lost seven consecutive games for the first time since the 2010 season, fell to 18-26 on the year while USF improved to 22-21.
Stetson jumped on top early in the game when
Jacob Koos led off with a double off USF starter Dylan Burns (3-2), moved up on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jorge Areans.
USF got that run right back in the bottom of the inning when Jake Sullivan yanked a solo homer down the left-field line off Hatters starter
Bret Neilan (1-5).
Stetson put up another single run in the second, getting hits from
Baylen Sparks and
Kyle Ball, a double, before Koos was intentionally walked. A wild pitch plated Sparks with the run.
USF knotted the score back at 2-2 in the third when Kyle Phillips reached on a one-out triple and scored on a ground ball by Sullivan.
USF took its first lead in the fourth inning when Chris Chatfield hit a home run off the top of the fence in right center.
The Bulls expanded their lead in the sixth inning, scoring a pair of runs to end the night for Neilan, who walked the leadoff hitter before Joe Genord singled to left.
Freshman
Danny Garcia came on in relief and got a fly out before Julio Cortez singled to right.
Andrew MacNeil came up firing to the plate, but Jordan Santos got in just ahead of the throw. A sacrifice fly by Austin Bondrato made it 5-2.
Stetson came right back in the top of the seven, scoring a pair of runs and chasing Burns.
Kyle Ball got things starting with a one-out hit.
Aaron Steinhart then drew a walk. After Burns got the second out of the inning,
Jake Murphy delivered an RBI single to left for the first hit of his collegiate career. Arenas followed with an RBI single to chase Burns.
Reliever Pat Doudicn came on to get Foggo on a ground ball to end the inning.
USF came back in the bottom of the seventh to get an insurance run off Garcia. Jake Sullivan led off the inning with a single up the middle. After a stolen base and an intentional walk,
Austin Bogart came in to pitch, surrendering a single to Chatfield to score pinch-runner Jordan Feist.
The Bulls threatened to add more, but
Vlad Nunez came on to get Stetson out of the inning, stranding the bases loaded.
Stetson loaded the bases in the ninth, but failed to score as Brandon Schrepf came on to earn his first save of the year.
The Hatters will return home to Melching Field to open a three-game ASUN series against Florida Gulf Coast on Friday night. The game is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start and will be sponsored by West Volusia Tourism.
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.
