DELAND, Fla. – Amber Chumley and Emily Santana each hit their first career home runs, helping the Hatters split the opening day of the Hatter Classic. Stetson dropped their first game of the day to Wofford 3-0 before earning a hard-fought 6-4 comeback victory over Fairfield.
Caitlyn Kulczyski started in the circle for Stetson against Wofford and took the loss. The right-hander went five innings, allowing one run on five hits, one walk, and three strikeouts. Despite a solid performance, Kulczyski received little offensive support as the Hatters scattered five hits throughout the game but were unable to advance a runner past second base. Kennedy Temples came in for two innings of relief, giving up two runs.
In the second game of the day, Stetson faced Fairfield, with Ava Braswell getting the start in the circle. An unearned run crossed the plate for the Stags in the top of the first, but the Hatters responded immediately in the bottom of the inning. Devon Weller laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Addison Foster. Braswell settled in after the first inning, allowing a run in the fourth before being relieved by Caitlin Mullen in the fifth. Mullen gave up a run but managed to escape a jam.
Stetson's comeback began in the bottom of the fifth when Chumley launched a towering home run to right-center, bringing the Hatters within one run. The offense kept rolling as Kami Eppley was hit by a pitch and Weller walked. Dylan Anthony doubled down the left-field line to bring Eppley home, and Madelyn Synoracki added a sacrifice fly to score Weller. Santana then delivered a two-run home run to center field, giving Stetson a 6-3 lead.
Mullen ran into trouble in the top of the seventh as the first two batters she faced reached base. Stetson turned to Hayley Arnold, who struck out the first batter before giving up a single that scored a run for Fairfield, narrowing the lead to 6-4. Arnold then walked the next batter, loading the bases, but responded with back-to-back strikeouts to secure the save and the 6-4 win.
Mullen earned the victory, going two innings and allowing two runs on three hits, with four walks and two strikeouts. Braswell pitched four innings, giving up two runs, one earned, on two hits, one walk, and four strikeouts. Every starter in Stetson's lineup reached base safely in the win, with Chumley leading the way with three hits, including a home run and a double.
The Hatters will begin day two of the Hatter Classic with a rematch against Wofford at 3:00 p.m., followed by a game against Bethune-Cookman at 5:30 p.m.
