FLORENCE, Ala. – The long ball was the difference in the Stetson University softball team's ASUN season-opening doubleheader at North Alabama, as the Hatters used a trio in Game 1 to win 6-1, while the Lions took the nightcap at Hilda B. Anderson Softball Stadium highlighted by a pair of home runs in a 9-0 contest.
 
GAME 1
After two scoreless frames, Danielle Diaz hit her first collegiate home run – a two-run shot – to give Stetson a lead it would not relinquish. For the senior, it was her second hit of the game, her sixth multi-hit game of the season, but also gave her the team-lead with 15 RBI.
 
Evette Morgan and Jordyn Stanfill would each hit their third home runs of the year, which ties for the team-lead, with solo shots in the fourth and fifth innings respectively, while Morgan would add an RBI single in the fifth to increase the Hatters' lead to 5-0. She now leads the squad with four multi-RBI games this season.
 
Lauren Hobbs (2-5) scattered 10 hits and allowed just one earned run over seven frames to record her fourth complete game of the season. She struck out six in the game and lowered her team-best season ERA to 2.53.
 
GAME 2
Marissa Baxter started in the circle in the second game and struggled with control, walking three over 2.2 innings and the Lions would tag her with one earned run in the third.
 
North Alabama (22-6, 1-1 ASUN) led 2-0 after four, but a three-run home run by Harley Stokes and a grand slam by Georgia Land powered the Lions to the win.
 
The Lions' starting pitcher Maci Birdyshaw (9-1) went the distance, struck out seven and allowed just one hit.
 
Additional Notes

• The Hatters' three home runs in a single game are the most for the team since it hit three versus Lipscomb on March 31, 2018. They've now hit at least three home runs 29 times in their history.
• It's the first time Stetson has hit at least three home runs on the road against a conference opponent since April 13, 2014, when the team hit four at Kennesaw State.
• Stetson won its season-opening ASUN game for the first time since 2014, versus USC Upstate on March 11 (2-1), while it's the first time the team did it on the road since March 21, 2009 at Jacksonville (3-2).
• The Hatters had lost six ASUN season-openers before today and were just 1-9 in their last 10. In ASUN season-opening weekends, they are 4-5-1 in their last 10, including 3-3 on the road.

 
Stetson (11-18, 1-1 ASUN) will look to win its fifth conference-opening weekend in the last eight years with the rubber match against the Lions on Sunday. The final game is set to start at Noon and can be viewed on ESPN+ or can be followed along through live stats. Links are provided on the Hatters' 2022 schedule page.
 

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