Six innings into Friday night's season-opening baseball game at Melching Field, the Stetson Hatters were struggling against visiting Manhattan.
 
The Hatters had scored just one run - leaving runners on base in every inning - had committed four errors and trailed a Jaspers team that helped spoil opening weekend last year 4-1. But, over the next two innings the Stetson dugout found its spark and the Hatters took advantage of four Jaspers errors to score four runs in the seventh inning and four more in the eighth to take a 9-6 victory.
 
Manhattan, which dropped a 4-3 decision to the Air Force Academy earlier in the day, fell to 0-2 on the season. For the Hatters it was just the second opening day victory in the last eight seasons, with the other having come against the Jaspers in 2018.
 
The Hatters' offense sparked to life with two out and no one on base in the seventh inning against Jaspers' senior reliever Jack Kelly, who was called on to open the inning in place of starter T.J. Stuart.
 
Junior Nick DiPonzio gave the Hatters life with a two-out double, his third hit of the game. After Mark Townsend drew a walk, Giovany Lorenzo singled to right, driving home DiPonzio, much as he had done in the first inning.
 
Manhattan went back to its pen, bringing on graduate right-hander Joe DiTorrice (0-1). Stetson senior Jonathan Meola greeted him with a two-run triple to right-center to knot the score at 4-4. Meola came in to score when Eric Foggo's ground ball to short was air-mailed over the first baseman's head, giving Stetson a 5-4 lead.
 
The Jaspers weren't ready to go down without a fight. After scoring four runs against Stetson junior starter Chris Gonzalez, with just two of those earned, Manhattan regained the lead in the top of the eighth. Sophomore Danny Garcia allowed consecutive singles with one out before getting a strikeout.
 
The fireworks started there when Manhattan's Jonathan Barditch was sent to first base on a hit by pitch. The play was originally called a foul ball by plate umpire Brian King, but changed after all three members of the crew conferred for several minutes.
 
Nick Cimillo made that change a costly one for Stetson when he dropped a hit into shallow left center off junior Garner Spoljaric (1-0), scoring two runs for a 6-5 Jaspers lead.
 
The Hatters bounced right back in the bottom of the inning, scoring four more runs, thanks in large part to three Manhattan errors in the inning. Townsend doubled home the tying run before scoring on a Foggo ground ball that was misplayed. Christian Pregent plated the final run with a hit off the pitcher DiTorrice.
 
Spoljaric got off to a shaky start in the ninth, but bounced back to close out a scoreless inning and preserve the win.
 
Both teams finished the game with 13 hits and four errors. The Hatters were led by newcomers DiPonzio and Lorenzo with three hits each while Meola and redshirt freshman Brandon Hylton had two each. Richie Barrella led the Jaspers with four hits, but had to leave the game in the middle of his fifth at bat as a result of injuring himself on a diving catch in right field to end the Stetson seventh.
 
Both the Jaspers and Hatters will return to face Air Force on Saturday. The Manhattan game against the Falcons is scheduled for 1 p.m. Stetson will face Air Force at 6:30 p.m. then again 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.