There was a feeling in the air at Melching Field on Sunday afternoon that it was just a matter of time before the Hatters pounced on Air Force starting pitcher Jeff Gerlica.
 
The senior hurler from Port St. Lucie got out of trouble in the first inning and allowed only single runs in the second and third despite having his back to the ropes. The Hatters finally chased him in the fourth inning, scoring six runs to blow the game open, securing an opening weekend sweep with an 8-1 victory.
 
Stetson improved to 3-0 with the win while the Falcons fell to 1-3 on the year.
 
Hatters' freshman Nick Durgin made his first start on the mound and, after a shaky start, lived up to his advanced billing. Durgin walked the first batter he faced before surrendering an infield hit. A wild pitched moved the lead runner to third with one out before Gabriel Garcia drove a fly ball to right to score the run.
 
Despite putting a runner on base in each of the first six innings, the Falcons never threatened to score again. Durgin worked 6.2 innings, allowing five hits with the one walk and eight strikeouts. Junior transfer Nick Long came on in relief in the seventh inning and retired seven straight to close out the game, adding a pair of strikeouts of his own.
 
Stetson tied the game in the second inning when Jonathan Meola opened the frame with a double, the first of his three hits. After Eric Foggo drew a walk, Brandon Hylton doubled to score Meola. Gerlica got out of further damage when Foggo was thrown out at home on a ground ball to third and then got a double play to end the frame.
 
The Hatters took the lead in the third when Nick DiPonzio reached on a one-out double and later scored on a sacrifice fly on a line drive to center by Meola.
 
Stetson blew the game open by sending 10 batters to the plate in the fourth inning. A single by Hylton started things before Jorge Arenas doubled him home, ending the day for Gerlica. The Falcons turned to John Byrnes on the mound in relief and Kyle Ball greated him with an RBI double for a 4-1 lead.
 
After DiPonzio walked, Mark Townsend blasted a line drive over the wall in right to make it 7-1. Meola sparked the final run by stealing second and third after a single to center, scoring on a single by Foggo.
 
Stetson finished with 11 hits in the game, including five doubles and a home run. For the weekend, the team hit .320 with 11 doubles while the Hatters pitchers allowed just six earned runs while recording 33 strikeouts.
 
The Hatters will try to keep the momentum going on Tuesday night in Orlando when they take on a UCF team that opened the season with a four-game sweep of Siena and beat the Hatters twice during the fall. Stetson's last victory over UCF came early in the 2018 season, coming off a season-opening sweep of Manhattan.
 
Overall, UCF leads the all-time series 73-50 and has posted victories in 15 of the last 16 regular season contests.
 
The game at John Euliano Park is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start.
 
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.