The Stetson baseball team was unable to solve the problem of the Kennesaw State attack on Sunday, falling to the Owls 7-1 in the finale of the weekend series.
KSU improved to 21-9 overall on the season and, with a 10-2 record in ASUN play, has a three-game lead in the East Division as the conference season nears the mid-point. Stetson falls to 16-15 overall and is in 4-8 in ASUN play, in a three-way tie with Jacksonville and North Florida for fourth in the Eastern Division.
Sophomore Cole Stallings (5-2) started and took the loss on the mound for the Hatters. He lasted just four innings against the hot-hitting Owls, surrendering four runs on five hits. Graduate left-hander Chris Gonzalez also surrendered five hits in his two innings of work, allowing three runs. Senior Rasesh Pandya was a bright spot out of the bullpen, going three shutout innings while allowing one hit, with two strikeouts.
KSU starter Brayden Eidson (3-0) scattered four hits over his five innings of work, allowing the only Stetson run. Relievers Luke Tolbert and Jared Rine allowed just one Stetson hit over the final three innings.
Freshman Yohann Dessureault had two of the five Stetson hits in the game, including a leadoff triple in the third inning that led to him scoring the lone Hatters run on a ground ball by Christian Pregent.
KSU senior Josh Hatcher had three hits and drove home a pair of runs to lead the Owls. Cash Young, Hudson Mimbs and Nick Hassan had two hits each for KSU.
The Hatters will return home on Tuesday evening to face Bethune-Cookman for the final time in 2022. The Wildcats have won the first two games between the teams this year. The game is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start.
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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