The Stetson Hatters got off to a bad start on Wednesday night at Melching Field and things never really got better in a 7-4 loss to Fairfield.
 
It was the second straight loss for Stetson (11-4) and just the second win of the season for Fairfield (2-9).
 
The Stags jumped on Hatters starting pitcher Chris Gonzalez for a pair of runs in the first inning. Justin Guerrera had the big blow in the frame with a two-run double. Fairfield added to the lead in the second, scoring an unearned run on a sacrifice fly after an error extended the inning.
 
Stetson rallied with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second off Fairfield starter Billy Fitzgerald. Freshman Christian Pregent delivered a two-out single to drive in the two runs. The Hatters tied the game in the third when Jonathan Meola doubled off Stags reliever Eli Oliphant (1-2), scoring Nick DiPonzio from first.
 
Fairfield regained the lead for good in the fifth when Giancomo Brancato delivered a two-out single off freshman Kyle Yeoward (2-1) to score Guerrera, who had walked. Fairfield pushed the lead to 6-3 in the seventh on an RBI triple by Guerrera off sophomore Danny Garcia and a sacrifice fly.
 
Stetson got one run back in the bottom of the seventh when Jorge Arenas reached on an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error. Andrew MacNeil and Kyle Ball followed with hits off Jason Hebner, but Jon Halpin came on to get the final two outs and strand two runners in scoring position.
 
Following Ball's hit in the seventh, the Fairfield pitchers retired the final nine Stetson batters in order, with Nick Grabek getting the last three for his first save.
 
Fairfield added an insurance run in the eighth.
 
Ball and Meola had two hits each to lead Stetson while Geurrera had two hits and drove in three runs for the Stags.
 
The upcoming schedule for the Hatters is up in the air at this point after the Ivy League announced all future athletics events for the spring have been cancelled in response to the spread of the Covid-19 virus. The Hatters also had a game scheduled again Maine on Tuesday next week, but that game has also been cancelled.
 
Check the Stetson Athletics web site, GoHatters.com, on Thursday for announcements on future scheduling.
 
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.