DeLand, Fla. -  The Stetson Hatter softball team was back in action at Patricia Wilson Field on Saturday, welcoming the Robert Morris Colonials for a twinbill. The Hatters rallied late before ultimately dropping the first game 6-5 in nine innings, but rebounded with a dominant 8-3 win in the nightcap.

The day's second game saw Stetson (9-15) strike first, grabbing a 1-0 lead on an RBI hit-by-pitch from right fielder Briana Robinson to score second baseman Madelyn Synoracki. 

Third baseman Gia Napoli got things going in the second, singling down the right field line and stealing second before scoring on a single from Synoracki to push the lead to 2-0. 

The Hatters would add on in the third when left fielder Annabella McLerren picked up a double down the left-field line before coming in to score on a single from Robinson to make it 3-0 after three. 

After starter Lauren Hobbs continued to cruise in the top half of the fourth, the Stetson offense broke the game open with a three-spot in the bottom of the frame. First baseman Riley Venn was hit by a pitch to leadoff and Napoli followed with an infield single. A sacrifice bunt from catcher Dylan Anthony would move both runners over, before Synoracki poked a single through the right side to make the lead 4-0. A double steal allowed Napoli to score before a sacricie fly from designated player Jaela Haynes plated Synoracki and pushed it to 6-0. 

The Colonials (3-10)would threaten in the fifth, loading the bases with no outs, but Hobbs was able to escape unscathed thanks to a strikeout, a fielder's choice, and a lineout to third. Robert Morris would finally push across a run in the sixth, but the Hatters answered back immediately in their half of the inning. Pinch hitter Addison Foster worked a walk to open the frame and moved to second on a single from Synoracki. A fielder's choice and stolen base from centerfielder Kami Eppley gave the Hatters a pair of runner's in scoring position and McLerren ripped a single to right to drive in both, extending the Stetson advantage to 8-1. 

Robert Morris scored twice in the top of the seventh, but Hobbs got a double play to end the game and give the Hatters the victory. 

Hobbs (4-4) picked up the win, tossing a complete game and allowing just one earned run on nine hits and four walks. She struck out three. 

In the day's first game, Robert Morris plated a pair of unearned runs to take a 2-0 lead after the first half-inning of play. The Hatters got one back in the bottom of the first though, thanks to a pair of singles from Synoracki and centerfielder Eppley and a sacrifice fly from desiganted player Evette Morgan to cut the Colonials' lead to 2-1. 

Robert Morris extended the lead back to two with a run in the fourth and added a pair in the fifth to take a 5-1 lead, but the Hatters would battle, cutting back into the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Napoli led off the inning with a walk and stole second base before moving to third on a productive ground out from shortstop Nadia English. Synoracki then delivered for Stetson, looping a line drive single down the left-field line to plate Napoli and cut the deficit to three runs at 5-2.

After reliever Victoria Ash worked around a sinlge to keep the Colonials off the board in the top of the seventh, the Hatters came up in the bottom of the frame looking for a rally and they found just that, loading the bases with no outs thanks to singles from pinch Haynes and Napoli and a walk from English. Following a flyout and a pitching change, Eppley worked a walk to drive in Haynes before Morgan roped a single to center fielder to drive in Napoli and English and tie the score at 5-5. An unsuccessful squeeze and a deep flyout end the threat and sent the game to extra innings. 

After both sides went quietly in the eighth, the Colonials would scratch out a run thanks to three-straight two-out hits to take a 6-5 lead in the top of the ninth and that would prove to be enough as the Hatters were unable to answer. 

Hannah Marien started in the circle for Stetson and went 4.0 innings, surrending five runs, just one of which was earned, on five hits and two walks while striking out two. Caitlyn Kulczyski threw 0.1 innings, and Ash (1-2) took the loss after allowing a single run over the final 4.2 innings. The freshman righty surrendered just four hits and struck out one Colonial. 

Synoracki had a huge day at the plate for Stetson, going 6-for-9 with three runs and three RBI, while Morgan added three RBI and McLerren had a pair.

The Hatters and Colonials will settle the series tomorrow, with first pitch scheduled for 11:30 AM.