CHARLOTTE, N.C.  – The Stetson Hatters hit the road for to open their final ASUN series at Queens University on Thursday night, and they did it in fine fashion, tallying 16 runs on 18 hits while drawing 8 walks and wearing two pitches. The Hatters coupled that with a three-man combined shutout to dominate the Royals 16-0.

Stetson (32-21, 19-9 ASUN) stormed out of the gates, using a leadoff single from shortstop Lorenzo Meola, a walk to left fielder David Bermudez, and an RBI single from center fielder Cameron Hill to take a 1-0 lead. The Hatters weren't done there though, getting a hit-by-pitch to first baseman Landon Moran to load the bases for right fielder Jayden Hylton. The big righty ripped a single to left field, driving in Bermudez and Hill and giving Stetson the 3-0 lead after half of an inning.

After starter Austin Amaral worked out of a bases loaded, one-out jam in the bottom of the first, Stetson added on in the second. Second baseman Andrew Estrella got the inning started with a walk and stole second base before moving to third on a single from Bermudez. With runners at the corners Hill delivered again, this time doubling to right field to plate Estrella and make it 4-0. Moran then lofted a sacrifice fly to center to score Bermudez and extend the edge to 5-0.

The next three innings were the Daniel Labrador show, as the Stetson backup scored on an RBI single from Estrella in the third before cranking a three-run home run in the fifth, and a three-run double in the sixth. Third baseman Drew Wyers also picked up a two-run home run in the sixth, and the Hatters got a run-scoring single and error combination from Hill and an RBI single off the bat of pinch hitter Brandon Hylton to take a 16-0 lead.

Amaral (7-3) was the first of three Stetson pitchers on the night and he set the tone, limiting Queens (16-37, 8-20 ASUN) to three hits and striking out three in 3.0 innings. He yielded to Jonathan Gonzalez, how allowed just two hits and struck out three more Royals over the next 3.0 innings. Nick Guzzi wrapped things up for the Hatters, striking out one batter and giving up one hit while working the final 1.0 innings.

Labrador led Stetson at the plate, turning in six RBI on and three runs scored while going 3-for-5 with a home run and a double. Hill picked up three hits of his own, going 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, and two RBI.

Stetson goes for the series win tomorrow night at 6:00 PM, before closing out the regular season at 1:00 PM on Saturday. The Hatters then return home to host the 2023 ASUN Conference Tournament, which opens play on Tuesday. More information on the tournament schedule or tickets can be found at: https://asunsports.org/sports/bsb/championship/2022-23/index