DELAND, Fla. - The Stetson University softball team's pitching staff limited the Florida Gulf Coast offense to just one run over 14 innings during a Saturday doubleheader as the Hatters registered a pair of wins over the Eagles in ASUN action at Patricia Wilson Field. Stetson won the first game of the day by a 5-0 count, while they battled to a 2-1 victory in the second.

The wins clinched the weekend series for the Hatters, their third in ASUN play this year which is the most since the 2016 season, while their seven league wins is also the most since 2016. The victories also extend Stetson's winning streak to four games, the longest for the team since March 10-15, 2018, when the team won five in a row. Three of those wins are in conference play, and the last time the Hatters won three straight ASUN games was during the 2016 season.

Game 1 recap
Scoreless through four frames, FGCU looked as if it would break the tie in the top of the fifth. The Eagles had runners on second and third with just one out. However, Lauren Hobbs struck out the next batter, and on a pitch to McKenna Batterton, the ball went to the backstop. Tayli Filla would try to score on the errant pitch, but catcher Jordyn Stanfill quickly got the ball to Hobbs, who was covering home, and she applied the tag to end the threat.

Stetson's offense responded in the home half, loading the bases with one out on singles by Alyssa Gilman and Danielle Diaz sandwiching a Brianna Clary walk. Marissa Baxter lofted a ball to the fence in right center scoring two and Kami Eppley's two-out single scored a third and the Hatters led 3-0.

Clary and Diaz would both add an RBI to their totals in the sixth to add a couple more insurance runs to their team's lead.

It was not needed, as Hobbs allowed just a single in the seventh, but Stetson turned its 18th double play of the season to end the game. Hobbs finished with four strikeouts, did not walk a batter and scattered six hits.

Game 2 recap
Stetson took an 1-0 lead in the second when Lizzie Shubert, who tripled, scored on a sac fly off the bat of Evette Morgan.

FGCU (13-24, 6-8 ASUN) was held hitless until a double in the fourth and did not have a player touch third until the sixth. However, that first runner, Amaya Ganier was standing there with one out, the bases loaded and the Eagles' top hitter coming to the plate. Just 1-for-5 to that point, Cana Davis flied out to right, but it was deep enough to score Ganier and tie the contest.

The Hatters answered in the home half with two outs and the top of their lineup. Clary tripled to left field and scored on a Diaz single up the middle and Stetson reclaimed its lead at 2-1.

The Eagles would not go down without a fight, getting the tying run to third and the go-ahead run to second with just one out. Diaz cut the tying run down at the plate after a grounder to third for out number two, but that was followed by a hit by pitch, loading the bases.

Lauren Klein ended the game with her seventh strikeout giving the Hatters the doubleheader sweep. She did not walk a batter all game, but did hit three and surrendered three hits.

Additional Notes
- Clary had two hits in Game 1, her team-leading 12th multi-game of the season. She also stole her team-leading 19th base of the year, while the triple was her first of the year, third of her career.
- Diaz had two hits in Game 2, and is second on the team with eight multi-hit games. 
- Baxter leads the team in doubles (9), RBI (22) and multi-RBI games (5).
- Haley Fox also stole a base, and is second on the team with 10
- In ASUN-only games, Hobbs is now 6-0 with a 1.04 ERA, has two complete-game shutouts and six complete games in all. Overall, she is now 7-6, with a team-best 2.25 ERA in 99.2 innings with 69 strikeouts and 10 complete games (all team highs). 
- Shubert notched her team-leading third triple of the year, the eighth of her career.
- Klein is also 7-6 this season with seven complete games and two shutouts.
- Coming into the weekend, the Hatters were tied for 23rd in the country in double plays turned per game (.45).
- The wins ended an eight-game losing streak to FGCU and improved the team's record at home to 16-6. The series win over the Eagles is the first since 2015.

Stetson (18-22, 7-4 ASUN) will look to earn the series sweep against the Eagles on Sunday with first pitch is set for 1 pm.
 

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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).

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