JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Offensive struggles and a ninth inning throwing error cost the Stetson Hatters in the series finale against Jacksonville on Saturday as the Dolphins walked-off with a 5-4 victory.
Sophomore Jonathan Gonzalez (3-5) took the loss on the mound for Stetson (18-17, 5-10). The left-hander went 1.1 innings, giving up one run on one hit, allowing no walks and striking out two. That one hit was a leadoff double to Cam Ridley in the ninth inning.
Sophomore Austin Amaral came in to pitch for Stetson and, when Chase Malloy load down a sacrifice bunt, Amaral's attempt to get Ridley at third was wild, allowing the JU speedster to sprint home with the winning run.
JU improved to 18-15 overall and 6-9 in ASUN play with the win, taking the series from Stetson.
Sophomore Cole Stallings started for the Hatters and worked five innings, surrendering one run on four hits while walking two and striking out one.
Stetson took the lead twice in the game. The first time came in the fourth inning when sophomore Brandon Hylton launched a two-run homer to right off JU starter Christian Graham. That was the only hit Graham allowed in his five innings of work.
JU reclaimed the lead in the sixth inning, scoring a pair of runs on four hits against freshman Dominic Stagliano. T.J. Curd's seeing-eye single off the glove of Stetson first baseman Jakob Bullard allowed both runs to score, giving JU a brief 3-2 lead.
Stetson answered in the top half of the seventh against JU reliever Tyler Naumann, loading the bases with no one out on a walk, a single through the infield by freshman Yohann Dessureault and a Jacksonville error on a sacrifice bunt attempt. The Hatters tied the game on a double-play ground ball and then took the lead with Dessureault scored on a wild pitch.
Reliever Tyler Vogel (3-0) earned the win for JU.
Stetson managed just four hits in the game, two by Dessureault, Hylton's homer and a sixth inning single by Cam Hill.
The Hatters will continue with their eight consecutive road games when they travel to Gainesville on Tuesday night for a 6 p.m. first pitch against Florida. The Hatters will then travel to south Florida for three games at FGCU next weekend before closing the trip on April 26 at No. 2 Miami.
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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