After dealing with the rigors of the road for almost two weeks, the Stetson baseball team returns home to Melching Field tonight to open a four-game weekend.
 
The Hatters host both Wichita State and FIU with each team playing four games. Play starts at 2 p.m. on Friday when the Shockers (7-5) face off against the Panthers (6-8). Stetson will play Wichita State in the evening game with the first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
 
Play will continue on Saturday with Stetson facing FIU at 2 p.m. before a second game against Wichita State at 6:30 p.m. The weekend series will close on Sunday with Wichita State and FIU matching up for the second time at 11:30 a.m. The Hatters and Panthers are slated to complete the round-robin weekend with Sunday's final game set for a 3:30 p.m. start.
 
All four games involving the Hatters will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Evan Weston and Messod Bendayan calling the action. The two games involving the Shockers and Panthers will be streamed to the Stetson YouTube channel.
 
The Hatters (12-6) are coming off a hard-fought win over South Florida on Tuesday night and are looking to get things going back in the right direction before opening ASUN play next weekend against FGCU.
 
Friday's game against Wichita State will be just the second all-time meeting between the Hatters and Shockers. The programs squared off in South Alabama's Coca-Cola Classic back in 2006, with WSU coming away with an 8-3 victory. Stetson and FIU are no strangers, having played 106 times all time with the Hatters holding a 64-42 series lead. The two games between the teams this weekend are the first of five scheduled to be played this year.
 
Stetson will have reigning ASUN Pitcher of the Week Nick Durgin (2-1, 2.66) will get the ball in Friday's opener. He threw eight no-hit innings in his last start, at Alabama, before allowing a pair of hits and runs in the ninth inning. He will be opposed by WSU junior right-hander Liam Eddy (1-2, 4.82).
 
For Stetson, graduate transfer Hernen Sardinas continues to swing a hot bat. The Miami native has hit in eight straight games and in 14-of-16 this year. Over his last two games he is 5-of-9 at the plate with two doubles and a triple. He came up a home run shy of hitting for the cycle on Tuesday at South Florida.
 
Also coming in with an eight-game hitting streak is redshirt junior Kyle Ball. He had two hits on Tuesday, including a three-run double in the deciding ninth inning.
 
Like Sardinas, graduate Jorge Arenas has reached base in 16 consecutive games this year. He enters play this weekend nine hits shy of 200 for 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.