FLORENCE, Ala. -- It was a career day at the plate for Brianna Clary as she helped the Stetson University softball team give starting pitcher Lauren Hobbs an early lead, and then Hobbs took care of the rest as she limited the North Alabama offense to just one run over seven innings to help the Hatters to a 3-1 victory at Hilda B. Anderson Softball Stadium on Sunday afternoon and an ASUN season-opening series win.

For the Hatters, it is their fifth conference-opening weekend series win in the last eight years, and they are now 5-4-1 in their last 10, including 4-2 on the road. Over the weekend, Stetson handed North Alabama (22-7, 1-2 ASUN) its first two losses at home.

Stetson put its first runs on the board in the second as Brianna Clary, who had a career-high four hits in the contest, drove in the first run when she singled home Haley Fox. Danielle Diaz followed with a sacrifice fly to plate Jaela Haynes and the Hatters led 2-0.

It was Clary again in the fourth, as she tied her career-high with two RBI, when she gave Stetson a 3-0 advantage with an RBI single that scored Kami Eppley.

That was all the help Hobbs would need as she tossed her fifth complete game of the year, scattered six hits and allowed a single run in the fifth. Hobbs, who went all seven in Saturday's Game 1, 6-1 victory, improved to 3-5 with the win while lowering her team-best ERA to 2.39.

Stetson (12-18, 2-1 ASUN) will play four of its next five games at home, all this week starting with a home-and-home, back-to-back series with Top 10 Florida. The Hatters host the Gators on Tuesday, then head to Gainesville on Wednesday - both games begin at 6 pm. This weekend, Stetson will welcome Bellarmine for an ASUN three-game series starting on Saturday.
 

---

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 (PDF).

Get in on the conversation on social media by following Stetson Athletics on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For video content, visit our YouTube channels: Stetson Hatters, Stetson Athletics and, for live events, Hatter Vision.