LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Stetson baseball team returned to action at Bellarmine on Saturday, looking to secure the series win against the Knights after the sides split Friday's series opening doubleheader. The Hatters and Knights brought the bats, combining for 17 runs on 21 hits, but Stetson came out on the wrong side of the scoreline, falling 11-6.

The teams traded blows in the first, as Stetson (20-13, 8-4 ASUN) got a double from left fielder David Bermudez and an RBI single from first baseman Landon Moran to take a 1-0 lead before Bellarmine (10-22, 5-7 ASUN) responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame. 
 
Stetson starter Jonathan Gonzalez and Bellarmine's Gavin Braunecker would settle in after the first, combining for 12 strikeouts and zero runs allowed over the next three innings, until the Hatters got a solo shot from right fielder Jayden Hylton to take a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth.

The Knights would again respond immediately, this time pouring on four runs on five hits to take a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth.

The Hatters weren't done however, answering back in the top of the sixth when Bermudez would work a one-out walk before catcher Christian Pregent drove a pitch to the opposite field and kept it just inside the foul pole in right field to for a two-run home run, cutting the Knights' lead to 5-4 with his seventh home run of the year.

Bellarmine got both runs back in their half of the inning, but Stetson continued the trend with a pair in the top of the seventh. Hylton got the inning started with a walk and pinch hitter Trae Harmon cut the lead to one again, cranking his first home run to center field to make the score 7-6 in favor of Bellarmine.

That would be the closest the Hatters would get though, as Bellarmine would add four runs in the bottom of the seventh to take an 11-6 lead and close out the day's scoring.

The Hatters return home to open a four-game homestand on Tuesday, welcoming UCF to the MAC for Top Gun Night, where fans will have the chance to receive a Top Gun-themed Stetson Baseball poster. Stetson will then pay a three-game, ASUN series against Lipscomb, with game times set for 6:30 PM on Friday night and Saturday night, and 12:00 PM on Sunday. Stetson's marketing department has a full slate of promotions for the series,  which can be found on the schedule page at: https://gohatters.com/sports/baseball/schedule

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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