CONWAY, Ark. - Entering the ninth inning of Friday night's ASUN series opener at Central Arkansas trailing 3-1, the Stetson Hatters battled back, getting home runs from Christian Pregent and Daniel Labrador to tie the game, before ultimately coming out on top 4-3 in 10 innings.

After a quiet first inning, Stetson (22-17, 10-6 ASUN) notched the game's first run thanks to first baseman Landon Moran, who launched his third home run of the season to right field to give the Hatters the 1-0 lead.

Central Arkansas (16-21, 7-9 ASUN) responded in the third, using a two-out single to even things up at 1-1. A solo home run in the fourth would give the Bears the 2-1 lead.

After Stetson saw a threat end with centerfielder Cameron Hill getting thrown out at the plate to end the top of the fourth, Central Arkansas saw its own scoring threat die at the plate in the bottom of the frame, as Stetson catcher Pregent was able to make the tag on an attempted steal of home to end the inning.

A throwing error in the sixth inning allowed a run to score and pushed the UCA lead to 3-1 after six innings.

Starter Austin Amaral, who limited Central Arkansas to three runs on five hits with five strikeouts,  passed the ball off to reliever Jonathan Gonzalez, who kept the Hatters in the game by allowing just a single hit and striking out three over the next two innings.

Moran, who missed a second home run by inches in the fourth inning, put a scare into the UCA crowd to lead off the ninth, driving a ball deep to right. It ultimately fell short, but Pregent made good on the threat just two pitches later, cutting the Bear lead to 3-2 with his team-leading ninth home run of the season. After a strikeout brought the Hatters to their final out, pinch hitter Daniel Labrador reset the game, cracking a 2-0 offering and planting it well past the left-field fence to even the game at 3-3 with his seventh home run.

Gonzalez continued to roll in the bottom of the ninth, working around a leadoff single to send the game to extra innings.

Shortstop Lorenzo Meola got the extra frame going by ripping a double just inside the third-base bag and into the corner in left field and moved to third on a wild pitch on a strikeout later in the inning. Another wild pitch, this one with centerfielder Cameron Hill at the plate, allowed Meola to race home and put the Hatters up 4-3.

Gonzalez (5-4) made the walk back to the mound for the bottom of the 10th and closed things out for Stetson, needing just 10 pitches to set the Bears down in order and end the game. All told, the lefty struck out eight batters while allowing just a pair of singles in 4.0 innings.

A trio of Hatters turned in multi-hit performances on the night, led with Moran going 2-for-4 with a home run, Meola going 2-for-4 with a double, and HIll turning in a 2-for-5 performance.

Stetson looks to secure the series win tomorrow evening at 5:00 PM. 


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.

Get in on the conversation on social media by following Stetson Athletics on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. For video content, visit our YouTube channels: Stetson Hatters, Stetson Athletics