After failing to get its offense going on Saturday night, the Stetson Hatters jump-started the scoring on Saturday by adding some aggression on the base paths in a 13-4 victory over Sacred Heart.

The Hatters had seven different players steal at least one base, and totaled 11 bags in the game, the most for a Stetson team this century and just three shy of the program record for steals in a game.

Sophomore Camden Traficante and freshman Andrew Estrella each collected three hits to help lead the Stetson Hatters to the victory. For Estrella, he picked up the first hit of his collegiate career in the fifth inning and then added two more. Traficante came into the game with just one hit on the season, but reached base four times and scored a pair of runs.

Sophomore Cole Stallings (2-0) started on the mound and picked up the win for Stetson (6-5). The right-hander went six innings, giving up three runs, all of them earned, on seven hits. He didn't walk anyone and struck out five. The trio of Cooper Smith, Tanner Martin and junior Bret Neilan, who made his season debut, finished off the game on the hill. Neilen struck out the Pioneers in order in the ninth.

In addition to their three hits each, Estrella and Traficante added a double and scored two runs. Sophomores Jakob Bullard and Anthony DeFabbia also had two hits each for Stetson. In addition to the 13 hits for the Hatters, Stetson batters also drew 11 walks in the game.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Pioneers jumped out to a 2-0 in the first after getting consecutive hits, including the first of five two-base hits, with the runs both scoring on groud outs. The Hatters answered back in the bottom of the inning, scoring four times on two hits, three walks and a sacrifice fly by Trae Harmon.

The Hatters scored four more the very next inning, chasing Sacred Heart starter Jake McDowell (0-2) in the process. DeFabbia singled home a run, Daniel Labrador drove in one with a sacrifice fly before Kyle Ball drew a bases loaded walk for the second straight inning. Harmon's RBI ground ball made it 8-2.

Stetson held Sacred Heart without a run before building their lead to 10-2 in the fifth inning, with one run scoring on a balk and the second on a double-steal.

The Pioneers plated single runs in the sixth and seventh innings, but Stetson added one in the sixth and two in the eighth to put the game away.

Stetson and Sacred Heart will square off one more time, Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m., to close an unusual three-game series. The Hatters will continue with their home stand next weekend when they host Florida A&M for a three-game series.

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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