DELAND, Fla. - For the second time in as many days the Stetson Hatters found themselves down after the top of the first inning, and for the second time the were able to rally, cranking four home runs to defeat the North Alabama Lions 9-7 and secure the series sweep.

North Alabama (5-21, 0-9 ASUN) jumped out to an early lead behind four runs in the top of the first, but the Hatters would get a pair back in the second. Third baseman Yohann Dessurealt would work a four-pitch walk, before designated hitter Daniel Labrador turned on the second pitch he saw, clearing the scoreboard in left field to plate both Dessureault and himself with his sixth home run of the year.

Catcher Christian Pregent would get in on the action in the fourth, planting a 1-0 offering in the Stetson (17-11, 7-2 ASUN) bullpen to cut the UNA lead to 4-3, but the Hatters weren't done in the inning. Labrador and right fielder Evan Griffis both drew walks before moving to second and third on a wild pitch. Shortstop Lorenzo Meola would follow with a strikeout, but reached first when the ball bounced wide, loading the bases for second baseman Andrew Estrella, who reset the score at 4-4 with a sacrifice fly to right field.

Left fielder David Bermudez led things off in the fifth inning, singling to right-center field to push his on-base streak to 20 games. After Dessureault was hit by a pitch, Pregent ripped a single back up the middle to drive in Bermudez and give the Hatters their first lead of the day. Stetson wasn't done though, as Labrador worked a walk to load the bases for Griffis, who drew a walk of his own to drive in Dessureault. Meola capped the inning for Stetson, plating Pregent with a sacrifice fly to right field to put the Hatters up 7-4.

The Lions got a run back in the sixth thanks to a solo home run, but a pair of diving plays from Dessureault at third base and a flyout to center field got the Hatters out of the inning.

Stetson used that momentum to answer immediately, as centerfielder Cameron Hill led off the inning with his third home run of the series to give the Hattters an 8-5 lead.

North Alabama threatened in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with one out, but reliever Cole Stallings was able to get a pair of strikeouts to escape the jam.

The Hatters added an insurance run in the eighth, thanks to a solo shot from first baseman Landon Moran to push the advantage to 9-5, and the Lions would answer with a pair of their own in the top of the ninth, but a strikeout from Stallings ended the game.

Jonathan Gonzalez (4-2) picked up the win for the Hatters, settling in after the first inning to allow five runs on eight hits to go with six strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work. Stalling earned his third save of the season on the back of 2.2 innings in which he struck out four and surrendered a pair of runs on four hits. Each Stetson hurler issued one walk.

Pregent turned in a 3-for-5 day, driving in a pair and scoring twice, and Moran went 2-for-5 with a run and an RBI.
 
Stetson steps out for conference play this Tuesday, welcoming FIU to the MAC at 5:00 PM, before hitting the road for Louisville, Kentucky to return to ASUN action at Bellarmine. The Hatters and Knights will face off at 6:00 PM on Thursday, 2:00 PM on Friday, and 12:00 PM on Saturday.

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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