Through five innings Friday night, things looked bleak for the Stetson's Hatters in their series opener against North Alabama at Melching Field. Down 3-0, the chance for coach Steve Trimper to earn his 600^th career win was in doubt.
 
The Hatters (6-0) had just one hit against UNA (0-2) starter Hunter Davidson and trailed the Lions 3-0. But UNA had to turn the game over to its bullpen in the sixth, and Stetson took advantage of the chance to see a different pitcher, rallying thanks to a trio of home runs to take an 8-3 victory.
 
The long ball, not normally a forte for Stetson, was not on the mind of many when Nick DiPonzio stepped into the box with two out in the sixth. His solo homer from Nick DiPonzio provided a burst of energy and, in the seventh, a two-run shot from Jorge Arenas ignited the crowd. A walk to Andrew MacNeil got the Hatters to Hernan Sardinas with two out, and he doubled home the go-ahead run.
 
MacNeil put the icing on the celebratory cake with a grand slam in the eighth inning.
 
The Stetson bullpen took care of the UNA offense for most of the night. Starter Nick Durgin struggled uncharacteristically, but battled his control through three innings, allowing two runs, only one earned. Gavin Sullivan worked four solid frames in relief to get the win before Nick Chiseri and freshman Cole Stallings closed out the last two frames with five strikeouts.
 
The weekend series will continue on Saturday with a double-header scheduled for a 2 p.m. start.
 
Game Facts

• Win – Gavin Sullivan (1-0)
• Loss – John Lundgren (0-1)
• Time – 3:00

Scoring Summary

• T1 – Kevin Brenning reached on a one-out double, stole third by sliding around the tag attempt from Jackson Olson, and scored on a ground ball to short, giving UNA a 1-0 lead.
• T3 – An error to open the inning produced a run on a single by Reid Homan for a 2-0 UNA lead.
• T5 – The Lions added another run after Homan reached on a single, moved up on a pair of balks, and scored on a sacrifice fly for a 3-0 Lions lead.
• B6 – With UNA reliever John Lundgren in the game, Nick DiPonzio got the Hatters on the board with a two-out blast to right for his second homer of the year.
• B7 – After Jackson Olson reached on an error to start the inning, "El Capitan" Jorge Arenas blasted a two-run homer to left to tie the game. MacNeil followed with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Kyle Ball. Hernen Sardinas cashed in the chance with a double into the right field corner to put Stetson on top 4-3.
• B8 – DiPonzio led off with a single against reliever Keegan Foge and Eric Foggo followed with a hit of his own. Jackson Olson loaded the bases when he dropped a perfect bunt down the third base line. MacNeil came to the plate with one out and unloaded on the first pitch he saw, putting Stetson up 8-3.

Hatters Notes

• The win for Stetson was the 600^th victory in the career of Hatters coach Steve Trimper. It was his 119^th win as coach of the Hatters.
• In his career, Trimper's teams have recorded wins over 109 different teams, including each of the three schools where he has served as head coach.
• The home run for Arenas was the 13^th of his career and was his 181^st career hit.
• With his go-ahead double, Sardinas now has 197 hits in his career.
• The home run for MacNeil was his first since March 15, 2019, against Yale.
• The Hatters have now homered three times in a game twice in the first six games. Before this year, the last time a Stetson team hit as many as three home runs in a game was May 6, 2017, in a game at Jacksonville when the Hatters hit four home runs.
• Sullivan earned his first collegiate win in his eighth career appearance for Stetson. His four innings of work were the most in a game in his career at Stetson.
• Freshman Cole Stallings made his collegiate debut, pitching the ninth inning. After hitting the first batter he faced, he struck out the next two before getting a soft line drive to end the game.
• Nick Chiseri struck out the side in his only inning of work. So far this year he has posted strikeouts for eight of the 13 hitters he has retired.
• Freshmen hurlers Anthony DeFabbia (1-0) and Jovan Gill (1-0) are scheduled to start the two games of the double-header on Saturday for the 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.