Box Score Stetson and Florida Gulf Coast were locked up in a tight game in their series opener on Friday night when lightning in the area brought the proceedings to a halt.
 
After an almost hour delay, the decision was made the call it a night with the Hatters (19-26, 8-8) leading 2-1 in the top of the sixth inning. The teams resumed the game on Saturday evening and Stetson was able to close out the Eagles to win the game by the same score.
 
The victory snapped Stetson's season-worst seven-game losing streak and improved the Hatters to 8-8 on the year in one-run games. FGCU fell to 30-16 overall and 12-4 in ASUN play with the loss.
 
FGCU got on the board in the first inning after Stetson starter Chris Gonzalez (6-1) retired the first two batters. A hit batter was followed with three consecutive singles, the last one by Eric Gonzalez to score Richie Garcia. Keith Stevens was thrown out at home by Noah Dickerson on the play to end the inning.
 
Stetson got on the board in the second when senior Baylen Sparks put a charge into a Mason Studstill (5-1) pitch, pulling it out to left for his second home run of the year.
 
The Hatters took the lead in the third when Jacob Koos reached on a two-out single and Jake Murphy, making just his second start, followed with an RBI double.
 
That is where things stayed until the sixth inning when FGCU got consecutive one-out singles from Stevens and Jay Hayes before the game, which started a half hour late because of lightning, was brought to a halt by lightning.
 
When play resumed on Saturday evening, Freshman Danny Garcia came on to pitch for Stetson. He needed just one pitch to get an inning-ending double play.
 
Garcia faced trouble in each of the final three innings, but he was able to strand four FGCU runners over those innings to close out the game for his second save of the year.
 
Stetson had just six hits in the game, two of those by Murphy, who had a double and a triple. Jay Hayes led FGCU's 10-hit effort with three.
 
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.