The Stetson baseball team returns home to Melching Field for another busy weekend as the Hatters host both Sacred Heart and Bethune-Cookman.
 
The Hatters (4-4) will open play Friday night against the Pioneers (1-5) from the Northeast Conference. The opening game of the series is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
 
Saturday and Sunday will feature two games each day with Bethune-Cookman (2-6) facing Sacred Heart on Saturday at 2 p.m. before playing the Hatters in a 6:30 p.m. tilt. The Wildcats and Pioneers will then square off again at 11 a.m. on Sunday with Stetson playing Sacred Heart at 3 p.m.
 
After taking Monday off, Stetson will play Sacred Heart again on Tuesday night, with that game slated for a 6:30 p.m. start.
 
All six games through Tuesday will be broadcast on Stetson's HatterVision Channel on YouTube with Messod Bendayan calling all the action.
 
Stetson is 3-1 all-time in its series against Sacred Heart with the most recent meetings coming during the 2019 season. The Hatters and Wildcats are long-time rivals with the series dating back to 1981. Stetson owns a 77-23 all-time lead. It has been two years since the teams have played due to the Covid pandemic.
 
The Hatters and Wildcats are scheduled to square off three times during the 2022 season. Other games are scheduled for March 30 in Daytona and April 12 back at Melching Field.
 
The Hatters will open the weekend with freshman right-hander Dominic Stagliano scheduled to make the first start of his career in the game against Sacred Heart. He has pitched in relief in three games so far and has earned a save in 4.2 innings of work. He is scheduled to be opposed by senior left-hander Chase Jeter, who allowed one run on three hits over six innings in his first start this year, a 2-0 loss to St. Thomas. He posted a 5-3 record last year with a 5.04 ERA in 12 starts for the Pioneers.
 
Sacred Heart comes into the weekend hitting just .174 as a team through six games, having scored just 16 total runs.
 
Stetson has been led offensively this year by sophomore Anthony DeFabbia and senior Cameron Hill. DeFabbia is hitting .409 on the young season while Hill is hitting .345 from the leadoff spot, having scored 11 runs and having already stolen seven bases.
 
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. 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.