TAMPA, Fla. - For the second time this season, Stetson takes down the USF Bulls as this time, the Hatters pick up a 5-2 victory at USF Baseball Stadium in Tampa on Tuesday night. Stetson took a 1-0 lead in the first inning and never surrendered the advantage as they wrap up a nine-game road trip with a win. With two hits in the ballgame, Yohann Dessureault extended his hit streak to ten games while freshman Kyle Jones has now reached base in 32 straight games.
Sophomore Brendan Walker earned the victory out of the bullpen for Stetson, his first of the season. The right-hander went three shutout innings while giving up one hit, allowing one walk and striking out two. Freshman Matthew Heyl started the game on the mound and went four innings, while allowing two runs on four hits and striking out a pair. After Zane Coppersmith held the Bulls scoreless, Cole Stallings shut the door with his eighth save of the season. The Tampa area native has now earned a save in each of his last four appearances.
In the batter's box, the Hatters were led by sophomore Isaiah Barkett, who went 2-for-4 on the day with an RBI. Dessureault also drove in a run with an RBI single in the second while Lorenzo Meola and Brandon Hylton plated runs in the eighth. Sophomore Landon Moran put together one hit in three trips to the plate while adding a double and a walk.
The Hatters got on the board immediately, starting their scoring with one run in the top of the first inning. Jones came across to score the lone run of the inning for Stetson and get them on the board.
The Hatters then held the Bulls scoreless before getting back on the board the very next inning. Stetson scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Dessureault, which brought the Hatters lead to 2-0.
Stetson held South Florida scoreless before building their lead to 3-0 in the fifth inning. The Hatters scored once on an RBI single off the bat of Barkett.
The Bulls gained ground, closing the gap to 3-2 until Stetson added some insurance in the eighth. The Hatters scored twice, with one run coming across on Hylton's 2-out single, bringing the Stetson advantage to 5-2.
The Hatters out-hit the Bulls at a 9-5 clip while going 3-for-8 (.375) with runners in scoring position. The Stetson staff held USF to just 1-for-5 (.200) with runners in scoring position while facing 34 Bulls batters in the game, forcing nine ground balls and 12 fly balls while striking out six.
Now 29-16 on the season, Stetson makes their return to conference play at Melching Field at Conrad Park for a three game series with the Austin Peay State Governors. The action begins with the Green Out at 6:30 PM on Friday, May 3.
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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