Tuscaloosa, Ala. – A big third inning for Alabama, scoring seven runs, was all the Crimson Tide needed on Sunday to take the rubber game of the weekend series from Stetson.
 
After the big inning, Stetson battled back to get within 7-4, but Alabama pushed across a pair of insurance runs in the eighth inning and went on to take a 9-4 win.
 
Stetson falls to 11-6 with the loss while No. 23 Alabama improved to 14-3 with the win.
 
Stetson freshman Jovan Gill got off to a good start, working a pair of clean innings to open the game, but he was unable to escape the third as Alabama used five hits and got help from two walks and a hit batter to plate seven runs.
 
Relievers Cole Stallings, Bret Neilan and Danny Garcia gave Stetson a chance to come back by blanking the Tide over the next 4.1 innings before Garcia surrendered a pair of runs in the eighth.
 
Overall, Stetson pitchers allowed 15 hits to go along with three walks, a balk and the one hit batter while also throwing a pair of wild pitches.
 
Offensively, Hernen Sardinas returned to the lineup for Stetson with a pair of hits including the 60^th double of his career.
 
The Hatters will conclude their six-game road stretch on Tuesday night back where it started, in Tampa against USF. Stetson will go after its first win of the year against the Bulls, with the first pitch scheduled for 6 p.m. The game is scheduled to be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
Game Facts

• Win – Antoine Jean (2-0)
• Loss – Jovan Gill (2-2)
• Time – 2:52

 
Scoring Summary

• T1 – Two walks followed by consecutive two-out singles by Hernen Sardinas and Banks Griffith plated Nick DiPonzio for the first run of the day.
• B3 – After Sam Prayter was hit by a pitch and stole second, Drew Williamson singled into center to tie the game at 1-1. Williamson stole second and moved up on a ground out before scoring on a single by Andrew Pinkney. After another walk, Jim Jarvis singled in the third run of the inning and Caden Rose followed with another RBI single. After allowing a walk, Gill was replaced on the mound by freshman Cole Stallings. William Hamiter greeted Stallings with a two-run double on the first pitch he saw and before Peyton Williams, who had walked, scored on a wild pitch to put Alabama on top 7-1.
• T4 – After Connor Kehl reached on a two-out infield single, Eric Foggo blasted a two-run homer off the scoreboard in left to cut the deficit to 7-3.
• T7 – Christian Pregent reached on a one-out single and moved up on a double by Jorge Arenas. Andrew MacNeil drove him home with a ground ball to second.
• B8 – Consecutive singles were followed by a ground ball by Prayter to score a run. Another hit was followed by a wild pitch to make it 9-4.

 
Hatters Notes

• Brandon Hylton missed Sunday's series finale after leaving Saturday's game following a collision at first base.
• Hernen Sardinas made his first appearance in the series at Alabama and singled on the first pitch he saw.
• The seven runs allowed by the Hatters in the third inning were the most in an inning against Stetson since Southern Illinois scored seven in the second inning on Feb. 19, 2017.
• Andrew MacNeil continues to climb the career hit-by-pitch list. He was hit for the 42^nd time in his career on Sunday.
• The double by Arenas in the seventh inning was the 39^th of his career and was the 190^th hit of his career.

 
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.