DeLAND, FL – Juniors Landon Russell and Lorenzo Meola each drove in three RBIs to lead the Stetson Hatters to a 9-7 victory over the South Carolina Upstate Spartans on Wednesday afternoon.

Junior Ethan Phillips started the game, pitching 5.2 innings and allowing one run on four hits, with one walk and two strikeouts. Despite his strong outing, Phillips did not earn the decision. Freshman Andrew Lepine picked up the win out of the bullpen, improving Stetson's record to 9-9 on the season. Max LeBlanc pitched a scoreless 8th inning to earn the hold, and Ty Van Dyke finished the game in the 9th, securing his first save of the year.

Meola went 2-for-4 at the plate with a double, a walk, and three RBIs. Russell also went 2-for-4, hitting a home run and driving in three RBIs. Sophomore catcher Salvador Alvarez had a solid day as well, going 1-for-3 with a home run, a walk, and an RBI.

The Hatters were trailing 1-0 in the third inning when they took their first lead. Meola delivered a two-run double off the left-field wall, putting Stetson ahead 2-1.

After holding the Spartans scoreless in the fourth, Stetson extended its lead in the fifth. Freshman Foster Apple hit a single to drive in Meola and Landon Moran, giving the Hatters a 4-1 advantage.

Stetson added to its lead in the sixth when Alvarez launched a two-out solo home run to left field, making it 5-1.

Though the Hatters surrendered their lead in the sixth inning, they regained it in the seventh. Trailing 7-5, Stetson scored three runs, highlighted by a three-run homer from Russell to left field, giving the Hatters an 8-7 lead.

Stetson added an insurance run in the eighth when Meola hit an RBI single, making the score 9-7. The Hatters held on to that lead for the remainder of the game.

Stetson will return to Melching Field this weekend to host the FGCU Eagles in the much-anticipated start of ASUN conference play.