DELAND, Fla. - A battle of two of the ASUN's top teams gave fans at the MAC all they could ask for on Friday night, as the Stetson Hatters and Lipscomb Bisons took to the field for the first of a three-game set. The Hatters rallied from an early deficit, hit four home runs, and got a career-best 10 strikeouts from Jonathan Gonzalez, before ultimately falling 6-4.

Lipscomb (17-16, 10-3 ASUN) jumped out to an early lead, striking three times in the top of the first, but Stetson didn't take the punches lying down as designated hitter David Bermudez answered in the bottom of the frame, homering to left field to give Stetson (20-15, 8-5 ASUN) its first 50-home run season since 2009 to cut into the Bison lead.

After a scoreless second, the Hatters chopped at the Lipscomb lead again, when shortstop Lorenzo Meola made it 3-2 Bisons with his first home run as a Hatter, planting the first pitch of 
the inning in the Stetson bullpen.

Stetson continued battling in the fourth, getting yet another solo home run, this one off the bat of right fielder Jayden Hylton, to even the score at 3-3.

The next 3 innings would be a completely different matter, as Stetson's Gonzalez and Lipscomb's Logan Van Treeck combined to allow just three hits while striking out 12 batters.

That offensive lull would end with one out in the top of the eighth, when the Bisons would reel off four consecutive singles to take a 5-2 lead.

After a solo home run in the top of the ninth pushed the Lipscomb lead to 6-3, the Hatters again battled in their half of the frame. Catcher Christian Pregent hit an absolute blast off the old scoreboard in left field to cut it back to two, but a pair of stellar defensive plays at third base ended the threat and the game.

Despite his strong showing, Gozalez was saddled with the loss after allowing a pair of runs on four hits while walking one to go along with his 10 strikeouts in 4.1 innings.
Bermudez led the offense on the night with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate with a home run and a double.
 
The Hatters and Bisons are back in action tomorrow night at 6:30 PM, with the teams celebrating Military Appreciation Day. The first 50 fans to show a valid military ID (Current or Expired) will receive a free camo Stetson hat. The series finale is set for Sunday at noon. As always it will be Kid's Club Sunday, and any kid 12 and under who signs up for the club will receive a free Kid's Club t-shirt. 


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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