Stetson had a chance, early in Sunday's game against Harvard at Melching Field, to blow the Crimson out but, the Hatters were unable to take advantage of scoring chances and Harvard battled back to take a 5-4 win.
 
The loss snapped Stetson's five-game win streak and gave Harvard (1-5) its first win of the year. The Hatters fell to 11-3.
 
Harvard scored the winning run in the ninth inning after loading the bases on three singles against sophomore Danny Garcia (0-1). Garcia got a strikeout for the second out in the frame before being replaced by closer Garner Spoljaric, who hung a breaking ball to Jake Suddleson, hitting him in the shoulder to drive home the go-ahead run.
 
Stetson got a one-out single from Giovany Lorenzo to put the tying run on base in the bottom of the ninth, but were unable to get him around to score.
 
The Hatters got on the board in early in the game when Andrew MacNeil led off with a double and scored on a single by DiPonzio. A passed ball and a wild pitch moved DiPonzio to third where he scored on a sacrifice fly by Jonathan Meola.
 
Stetson had a chance to expand the lead in the third inning when the Hatters loaded the bases, but Harvard junior right-hander Enzo Stefanoni got out of the jam with a strikeout and a ground ball to leave three on base.
 
The Crimson found some success against Stetson freshman Nick Durgin in the fourth inning, getting the leadoff runner on via a strikeout/wild pitch before Suddleson doubled into the corner. After a hit by pitch loaded the bases, Will Jacobsen singled to left center, tying the game at 2-2.
 
The Hatters bounced back, scoring single runs in the fifth and sixth. Jorge Arenas led off the fifth with a double, moved up on a wild pitch and scored on a single through a drawn-in infield by Kyle Ball. The Crimson turned to left-hander Tim Williamson (1-0) to get out of the inning, but Eric Foggo blasted an opposite field home run off him in the sixth for a 4-2 Stetson lead.
 
Stetson threatened again in the seventh inning, putting two runners on with one out, but failed to get a key hit in that inning as well.
 
Durgin kept Harvard at bay after getting out of the fourth inning troubles with back-to-back strikeouts. He retired 11 straight before allowing a leadoff single in the eighth. With one out, junior Chris Gonzalez came in to face left-handed hitting Ben Rounds, but issued a walk and then hit a batter to lead the bases.
 
Garcia came on in relief and got the second out on a foul fly down the right-field line, but DiPonzio was carried out of play while making the catch, allowing Pryor Thomas to tag and score from third. Chad Minto followed with a single to left, tying the game at 4-4.
 
Jacobsen moved from third base to the mound for the ninth inning and closed out the Hatters to earn his first save of the year.
 
Durgin turned in another solid performance on the mound for Stetson, allowing three runs on three hits over 7.1 innings with no walks and a season-high 10 strikeouts. MacNeil, Ball and DiPonzio had two hits each to lead Stetson.
 
The Hatters will be back in action at Melching Field on Wednesday night when they square off against Fairfield for the second time. That game is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start. Next weekend Stetson will host another Ivy League team, Penn, for a three-game series. Saturday's game has been designated as season-ticket holder appreciation day and, in honor of Pi Day, the first 100 people through the gate will received a free Key Lime Pie on a stick.
 
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.