DELAND, Fla. - The Stetson Hatters got a pair of home runs from second baseman Yohann Dessureault and a combined shutout from pitchers Austin Amaral and Jonathan Gonzalez on Friday night, opening this weekend's series with a 7-0 win over Liberty. 
 
Both sides would threaten early, as four runners reached scoring position in the first two and a half innings, but it would be Stetson (25-17, 13-6 ASUN) who would strike first. Dessureault got the inning started with his seventh home run of the season, before shortstop Lorenzo Meola reached on an infield single and left fielder David Bermudez was hit by a pitch. Following an out, first baseman Landon Moran roped a double down the right field line to drive in Meola and put runners at second and third for catcher Christian Pregent. The Stetston backstop capitalized on the opportunity, lifting a sacrifice fly to right field to score Bermudez and give the Hatters a 3-0 lead.
 
Liberty (19-22, 10-9 ASUN) looked poised to respond in the top of the fourth, thanks to a leadoff walk, stolen base, and a groundout that moved the runner to third, but Amaral was able to get a strikeout and a flyout down the left field line to strand the runner at third.
 
The score would stay at 3-0 until the seventh inning, when the Hatters added on with three more runs. Third baseman Drew Wyers drew a walk to open the frame, before moving to second on a one-out single from Meola. Bermudez followed with an RBI single through the right side to plate Wyers and center fielder Cameron HIll worked a walk to load the bases. Moran would then drive in a pair, ripping a single back up the middle to plate Meola and Bermudez and push the Hatter lead to 6-0.
 
Dessureault put a cap on the scoring in the eighth, launching his second home run of the evening to left-center field.

Amaral (5-3) picked up the win on the night, scattering three hits and five walks while striking out four in 6.0 innings of work, while Gonzalez picked up his first save of the season on the back of 3.0 innings of one hit, one walk, five strikeout relief.

Dessureault turned in a 2-for-4 night at the plate with two RBI and two runs scored, and Moran was 2-for-4 with two RBI while Meola was 2-for-5 with a pair of runs scored.
 
The Hatters and Flames are set to do battle again tomorrow evening at 6:30 PM, with Sunday's series finale scheduled for 1:00 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.

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