The preliminaries are finally over – it is time for ASUN Conference Baseball.
For the first time since May of 2019, the Stetson Hatters will square off in a game that will mean something in the standings when the Hatters host Florida Gulf Coast at Melching Field.
Game times for the weekend series are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday. The games will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Evan Weston on the call of the action. A limited number of tickets for each of the three games this weekend will be available through the Stetson Athletics
Ticket Office.
Stetson enter the first week of ASUN play with a 14-7 overall record on the year. FGCU has a 12-7 record on the season. The Hatters trail the Eagles 20-19 in the all-time series between the programs but Stetson has won each of the last seven games and 10 of the last 11.
Like Stetson, FGCU has played a largely home state schedule, having won six games against South Florida while dropping two of three to Florida Atlantic and one to Miami and splitting a four-game series against Florida A&M. The Eagles also took three of four home games against Kansas and lost a game to Indiana State.
The series this weekend is the first of seven scheduled games between the teams this year, the same number each of the four Florida teams in the ASUN will face off against each other. There will then be two best two-of-three series at the end of the year for the right to advance to the ASUN Tournament.
The Hatters come into the weekend having won three of their last four games, including Tuesday's road win against FIU. Stetson opened the season with a 10-game win streak before dropping six of eight games.
Two of the hottest Stetson hitters are graduate students
Hernen Sardinas (.342) and
Andrew MacNeil (.292). Both are among the ASUN's leading performers in numerous offensive categories.
The Hatters also expect the return this weekend of infielder
Banks Griffith, who had hit safely in five of his last six games, but has not been in the lineup since March 16.
FGCU comes into the weekend hitting a robust .286 as a team. The Eagles are led by senior outfielder Cameron Krzeminski with a .386 average in 14 games. Redshirt sophomore Brian Ellis (.380) and senior infielder Richie Garcia (.338) have teamed with sophomore utility man Joe Kinker (.315) to drive in 46 of the 98 runs the Eagles have scored.
Friday's pitching matchup promises to make things tough for all the hitters. Stetson redshirt freshman
Nick Durgin (3-1, 3.23) will square off against veteran right-hander Mason Studstill (2-1, 1-11), who is looking to bounce back after taking a loss in his last outing to Florida A&M.
Durgin has gone at least seven innings in each of his last three starts with a total of 20 strikeouts in 22 innings on the mound. His last two starts have been wins over Alabama and Wichita State.
Saturday's game is scheduled to feature a pair of left-handers – Stetson's
Chris Gonzalez (2-0, 4.46) against FGCU's Gus Carter (0-1, 3.05). It will be Carter's ninth appearance of the year, but just his fourth start. He took the loss in his last start, at Miami on March 17, allowing four runs on six hits over 4.1 innings of work.
Neither team has named a starting pitcher for Sunday's series finale.
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.
