CHARLOTTE, N.C.  – The Stetson baseball team took to the field at The Stick in Charlotte, North Carolina for a final time in the 2023 regular season, looking to end on the right foot with their seventh ASUN series win of the season. The Hatter attack made sure of that, belting five home runs and piling on 11 runs to defeat the Queens University Royals 11-2.

Just like he has all weekend, shortstop Lorenzo Meola got things rolling, opening the game with a single to center field. Two quick outs had the Hatters on the ropes in the inning, but first baseman Landon Moran drew a walk to keep the inning alive and catcher Christian Pregent, making a return to the lineup after a week off, made Queens (17-38, 9-21 ASUN) pay for the free base, launching a three-run home to put the Hatters on the board. Designated hitter Branon Hylton then piled on, planting the very next pitch over the fence to make it 4-0 Stetson (33-22, 20-10 ASUN). Pregent's long ball was his 11^th of the season, while Hylton's was his seventh.

The Royals would respond with an unearned run in the bottom of the first, but Stetson got it back in the third. Pregent started the inning with a double, moved to second on a single from Brandon Hylton, and came in to score on a single from right fielder Jayden Hylton, extending the lead back to four runs, 5-1.

Center fielder Cameron Hill led of the sixth inning with a solo home run, his seventh of the year, to make it 6-1, before the Hatters piled on in the seventh. Brandon Hylton led off with a double and moved to third on a balk before Jayden Hylton singled him home. Following a flyout and a single from second baseman Andrew Estrella, Meola cleared the bases and drove himself in in the process, blasting a three-run shot for his fourth home run of the season and the 10-1 lead.

Jayden Hylton's eight home run, a solo homer, in the eighth made it 11-1. The Royals got a solo home run of their own in the bottom of the eighth to close out the day's scoring with the score 11-2 Stetson.

It wasn't all offense for Stetson on the day, as Brendan Walker, Nick Guzzi (W, 2-0), Simon Lusignan, and Jack Owens combined to hold Queens to just one earned run on four hits while striking out five.

Five Hatters picked up multiple hits on the day, led by Meola (4-for-6, 3 RBI, 2 R) and Jayden Hylton (4-for-5, 3 RBI, 2R).

Though the victory closed out the regular season, the 2023 season isn't over for the Hatters, who are back in action this week, hosting the ASUN Tournament at the MAC. Pool play begins on Tuesday, and continues through Friday, with the semifinals set for Saturday and the Championship Game scheduled for Sunday afternoon. For more information, including seeding and ticket information, visit: