The Stetson baseball team will square off with an ASUN Conference rival earlier than normal when the Hatters host North Alabama this weekend at Melching Field.
 
The four-game series between the Hatters and Lions will not count in the league standings this year.
 
Fan attendance for the games at Melching Field will continue to be limited, but capacity for the series this weekend has been increased to allow a limited number of season-ticket holders to attend the games. All 2020 season ticket holders have been contacted by the Stetson Athletics Ticket Office with regard to attending games this weekend.
 
The series is scheduled to begin Friday evening with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Saturday's double-header will start at 2 p.m. with the second game to follow 30-45 minutes after the conclusion of the first game. Sunday's series finale is set for a 12 p.m. start.
 
Stetson and UNA have faced each other just once, with the Hatters taking two of three games in Florence, Ala., to open the 2019 ASUN season. Stetson comes into the weekend with a 5-0 record after Tuesday's 7-0 victory at UCF. UNA was unable to play last weekend because of the winter weather that blanketed the country. The Lions dropped their opening game on Tuesday to Belmont, 5-1.
 
All four games of the series will be broadcast on Hatter Vision.
 
Stetson comes into the series having posted shutouts in three of the first five games, including the last two. Only twice in program history has a Stetson team posted three consecutive shutout wins – 2007 in a three-game sweep at Kennesaw State and in the 1905 season.
 
Pitching Matchups

• Friday – Stetson redshirt freshman Nick Durgin will look for his second win after working 5.2 innings in the opener against FAMU, allowing a run on three hits with eight strikeouts. He will be opposed by UNA senior RHP Hunter Davidson, who had a 1-2 record last year in four starts with a 4.63 ERA.
• Saturday – Game one will pit the defending ASUN Pitcher of the Week, Hatters' freshman Anthony DeFabbia against UNA senior RHP Chase Best. DeFabbia went the distance against FAMU in his first start, earning a 1-0 win. Best was 1-3 last spring with a 3.86 ERA in four starts.
• The second game will pit another Stetson freshman, RHP Jovan Gill, against another veteran RHP for UNA, senior Kyle Moore. Gill went six shutout innings to earn a win in his debut with six strikeouts. Moore pitched in relief for the Lions last year, posting an 0-1 record with a save and a 3.24 ERA in five appearances.
• Sunday – Redshirt junior left-hander Chris Gonzalez will make his second start of the season, and the second of his career against UNA. He went the distance against the Lions in 2019, allowing only an unearned run on six hits with eight strikeouts. He opened the 2021 season with seven innings against FAMU, allowing one run on six hits with 10 strikeouts. UNA is expected to send freshman right-hander Will Haberstock to the mound for his second start. He went 2.2 no-hit innings in his debut on Tuesday night with two walks and four strikeouts.

 
Hatters Notes

• Hatters coach Steve Trimper enters the weekend looking for his 600^th career win as a head coach. He has a combined record of 599-544-4 in his career.
• UNA head coach Mike Keehn is in his 13^th season as the Lions' head coach and his 33 total season in the program. His career record stands at 327-252-1.
• If Hatters graduate, and captain, Jorge Arenas plays in all four games this weekend, Sunday will be his 200^th in a Stetson uniform. Arenas is 20 hits shy of 200 for his career and is seven runs scored shy of 100.
• Graduate transfer Hernen Sardinas needs just four hits this weekend to reach the 200-hit milestone for his career. He is off to a hot start as a member of the Hatters, having hit .467 through his first five games.
• The games against North Alabama are part of seven games against teams from Alabama this year. All-time, the Hatters have a 78-37 record against teams from Alabama. Stetson will travel to play at the University of Alabama March 12-14.

 
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.