With radar guns dotting the stands for an expected showdown between dynamic starting pitchers, Stetson's Robbie Peto dominated as the Hatters rolled past Ohio State 9-1 to cap the first day of play in the 2020 Stetson Invitational.
 
Fairfield defeated Harvard 11-2 to open the tournament on Friday afternoon.
 
Both Peto (3-0) and Buckeyes' left-hander Seth Lonsway (1-2) showed signs of feeling the pressure to perform for the throng of professional scouts early on, but Peto was able to shake off some first inning jitters to pitch six dominant innings.
 
The redshirt junior gave up a single and a walk in the first inning, but allowed just one base runner over the next three frames. Lonsway wasn't as fortunate. After (10-2) stranded the bases loaded in the first inning, thanks to three walks, the Hatters scored a pair of runs in the second and two more in the third to send the Buckeye hurler to the showers early.
 
Jake Murphy pushed across the first run for Stetson in the second inning when he drew a bases loaded walk, one of four in the game for Murphy, and 13 allowed by Ohio State pitching. The Hatters got their second run on a wild pitch.
 
Andrew MacNeil made in 3-0 in the third when he singled home Eric Foggo off reliever Joe Gahm. MacNeil then got intentionally caught in a run-down, allowing Kyle Ball to race home to make it 4-0.
 
Ohio State (3-7) scored its only run of the night in the fifth inning on a two-out triple by Mitchell Okuley after Peto had allowed a two-out walk. The run snapped a streak of 27 scoreless innings for Stetson pitchers going back to last Saturday. Peto closed out the inning with a strikeout, one of 11 on the night, to get out of trouble and strand two runners on base.
 
The Hatters added an insurance run in the fourth inning when Murphy scored on a sacrifice fly by Foggo. Stetson then blew the game open in the sixth when MacNeil delivered a two-out bases-loaded single through the right side of the infield, scoring all three runners with the help of a misplay in right.
 
Stetson scored the final run of the game in the eighth when Jorge Arenas ripped a two-out double over the head of the Buckeyes' left fielder, scoring Christian Pregent all the way from first.
 
Danny Garcia followed Peto's six innings of work with a pair of frames in relief before Nick Long closed out the game in the ninth.
 
Stetson finished with eight hits in the game to go with the 13 walks and three hit batters by Ohio State pitchers. The Hatters ended up stranding a season-high 14 runners on base. MacNeil, who had two outstanding catches in center field, had two hits and drove in three runs to lead the way. Ball had three hits in the game and scored three runs while Pregent also scored three runs.
 
Play in the Stetson Invitational will continue on Saturday when the Buckeyes take on Harvard (0-4) at noon. The Hatters will return to action at 6:30 when they face Fairfield (1-6). Sophomore left-hander Daniel Paret is expected to make his season debut on the mound for the Hatters.
 
It will also be baseball card night at Melching Field with Kyle Ball featured on the third in a series of 15 cards featuring the 2020 Hatters.
 
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.