The Stetson Hatters shook off their early season offensive woes Saturday night at Melching Field, pounding out 13 hits, including five doubles, in a 12-8 victory over visiting Columbia.

The Hatters (3-3) and Lions (1-1) will meet again on Sunday at 1 p.m. in the rubber game of the weekend series.

Stetson got contributions from every part of its lineup, as all nine starters reached base safely. Freshman Daniel Labrador led the way for the Hatters with three hits while Cameron Hill, Yohann Desureault and Anthony DeFabbia had two hits apiece.

Sophomore starting pitcher Jonathan Gonzalez (1-1) got the win. The southpaw went six innings, giving up four runs, all of them earned, on nine hits, allowing no walks and striking out six. Freshman Dominic Stagliano also pitched well, going two innings, surrendering one run on two hits, walking none and striking out two.

Columbia starter JD Ogden (0-1) took the loss after pitching into the fourth inning. He allowed four runs, three earned, on four hits, four walks. Reliever Brandon Madrigal was on the receiving end of much of the Hatters' five-run fourth inning. He allowed six runs on six hits in just 1.1 innings of work.

The Hatters scored first, plating a pair of runs in the third inning. It was Dessureault's first hit of the night, a single up the middle that caromed off the second base bag, that allowed junior Banks Griffith to score. Hill followed behind after an errant throw from center field opened the door for him.

After Columbia got a run back in the top of the fourth on a pair of singles and a ground ball, the Hatters blew the game open with their five-run bottom of the inning. Labrador opened the inning with a double, eventually scoring on a failed pick-off attempt. Two walks and a hit batter loaded the bases for Hill, who cleared them with a double to the gap in left-center. He scored the final run on the frame by the second hit by Dessureault.

Stetson poured it on from there, scoring three runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth. Freshman Juan Correa doubled home a run, but then ended up as the first out of the inning when he failed to touch third base on a DeFabbia's first double. Banks Griffith finished off the inning with an RBI double of his own to push the Stetson lead to 10-1.

The Lions gained ground, closing the gap to 10-4 in the top of the sixth, getting one on a solo homer by Cole Hage and then adding three more singles and a sacrifice fly. Stetson added some insurance in the bottom of the innings with Labrador drining in a run on his third hit and DeFabbia following with hist second double to drive in another. 

Columbia scored its final runs off Stetson freshman left-hander Dillon Haines in the ninth. An infield error and an infield single put two runners on base for Hage, who followed by blasting his second homer of the night. Haines settled down to record a pair of strikeouts before getting a ground ball to end the game.

Every Stetson starter reached base safely in the win and the Hatters combined to go 8-for-13 (.615) in the game with runners in scoring position.

This story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.

About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program is driven by a shared purpose. It is what inspires, motivates and binds us together. More than a task, a reason for being. THE HATTER PURPOSE is to create and provide an experience of a lifetime through teamwork and relationships to achieve excellence. This purpose is achieved through five Core Values: Communication, Integrity, Excellence, Value People and Commitment. To learn more about the HATS program and our Core Values, visit GoHatters.com/HATS.

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