DELAND, Fla. – The Stetson Hatters returned to action at the MAC on Friday night, welcoming ASUN foe Jacksonville. The Hatters were dominant on the night pairing a strong offensive showing with dominant pitching to take down the Dolphins 9-2.

Both teams would strand runners through the game's first two innings, but Jacksonville (29-20, 13-12 ASUN) took advantage of a defensive miscue to grab the game's first run in the top of the third. As they have all season, the Hatters (29-20, 17-8 ASUN) responded quickly, using a single from second baseman Yohann Dessureault, a wild pitch, and a double by centerfielder Cameron Hill to even things up at 1-1 in the bottom of the inning.
Stetson added on in the bottom of the fourth, thanks to an RBI single from Dessureault to score right fielder Jayden Hylton and an error off the bat of shortstop Lorenzo Meola to plate third baseman Drew Wyers and make it 3-1 Hatters.

JU would pair a leadoff triple with a sacrifice fly to cut the Hatter lead to one run, 3-2 in the top of the sixth, but the Hatters would again have an answer. Stetson would load the bases on a walk from Dessureault, a hit-by-pitch from Meola, and a bunt single from left fielder David Bermudez. After a passed ball allowed Dessureault to score, Hill laced a triple down the right field line to drive in both runners and make it 6-2 Stetson. First baseman Landon Moran drove a 2-1 offering to the warning track in center to score Hill and push it to 7-2 Hatters, before designated hitter Brandon Hylton picked up a triple of his own. An error on an infield pop-up scored the big lefty and saw the younger Hylton end up on second. Wyers then made the most of the opportunity, ripping a single to right-center field to drive in Hylton and push the Hatter lead to 9-2.

That would be more than enough for Stetson, as Jonathan Gonzalez retired six of the final seven JU batters to close out the game.

Austin Amaral (6-3) picked up the win for Stetson, holding JU to a pair of runs, just one earned, on six hits and three walks while striking out four in 6.0 innings, and Gonzalez picked up his second save of the season after allowing a single hit and a walk with four strikeouts while working the final 3.0 innings.

A quartet of Hatters picked up two hits on the night, led by Hill's 2-for-4, three RBI performance. The Stetson centerfielder turned in a double and a triple, along with a walk, on the evening. Wyers was 2-for-4 with an RBI, Dessureault was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk, and Bermudez was 2-for-4 with a pair of singles.

The Hatters and Dolphins are back at it tomorrow evening at 6:30 PM. Prior to the game, the Hatters will honor this year's senior class, consisting of Bermudez, Trae Harmon, Hill, Brandon Hylton, Daniel Paret, and Christian Pregent.