JACKSONVILLE – The Stetson Hatters overcame a 1-1 tie in the seventh inning, scoring three unanswered runs to defeat the Jacksonville Dolphins 4-1 on the road Saturday night.

Senior Justin Solimine (1-0) earned the win in relief, tossing two shutout innings. He allowed one hit, one walk, and struck out one. Stetson improved to 12-12 overall and 3-2 in ASUN play with the victory. Senior Jonathan Gonzalez started for the Hatters but was a no-decision, going five innings and allowing one run on five hits, while walking one and striking out four. Senior Ty Van Dyke picked up the save, closing out the final two innings and preventing any Jacksonville comeback. As a whole, the Hatters' pitching staff held Jacksonville to 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position.

Offensively, Stetson was led by sophomore Juan De La Cruz, who went 2-for-3 with a home run, a walk, and an RBI. Freshman Foster Apple also had a strong game at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, and two RBIs. Junior Isaiah Barkett contributed by reaching base four times, with a hit and three walks in the game.

The Hatters were trailing 1-0 in the third inning when De La Cruz tied the game with a leadoff home run to left-center field, his second of the season. The score remained knotted at 1-1 until the eighth inning when Stetson took the lead. With one out, junior Jordan Taylor delivered an RBI double to left field to plate Lorenzo Meola, putting the Hatters ahead 2-1.

Stetson then sealed the game in the ninth, adding two more runs on a two-run double by Apple, which scored sophomore Anthony Gonzalez and De La Cruz, extending the lead to 4-1. Van Dyke then shut down Jacksonville in the final inning, securing the victory.

Stetson will look to clinch the series win when the teams meet again on Sunday at 1:00 PM at John Sessions Stadium in Jacksonville, FL.