JACKSONVILLE – Junior third baseman Isaiah Barkett led the way for the Stetson Hatters, going 4-for-5 with a triple and an RBI, while first baseman Landon Moran drove in four runs, including a grand slam, to power Stetson to an 11-1 victory over the Jacksonville Dolphins on Sunday afternoon. The win secured another conference series victory for the Hatters.
Sophomore Zane Coppersmith (2-2) earned the win in relief for Stetson (13-12, 4-2 ASUN), tossing three shutout innings. He allowed three hits, one walk, and struck out one. Junior TJ Melani also contributed out of the bullpen, throwing two shutout innings with one hit, no walks, and two strikeouts. Starter Mason Davenport went three innings, allowing one run and striking out three, but did not factor into the decision. For the second straight game, Stetson pitching kept Jacksonville scoreless with runners in scoring position, with the Dolphins finishing 0-for-15 in those situations.
Barkett was a standout for Stetson, leading a balanced attack with four hits including an RBI. Moran's grand slam in the third inning was the highlight of a Hatters' six-run rally, and it gave him a total of four RBIs for the game. Junior Lorenzo Meola also contributed with two hits, including a home run, and drove in two RBIs. Four different Hatters had multi-hit games as Stetson out-hit Jacksonville 15-9.
The Hatters struck first in the top of the first inning. Barkett led off the game with a triple down the right-field line and came home to score the game's first run. Stetson then exploded for six runs in the third, highlighted by Moran's grand slam that made it 5-0. Landon Russell's triple, followed by an error, added two more runs for the Hatters. Moran's homer was his third of the season and his second grand slam of the month, both during conference play.
Jacksonville cut the lead to 7-1, but Stetson responded with two more runs in the eighth, thanks to Meola's two-run homer to left field, his team-high sixth of the season. The Hatters tacked on two more runs in the ninth, with RBI singles from Juan De La Cruz and Barkett, extending their lead to 11-1. Stetson's pitching staff kept Jacksonville off the board the rest of the way, and the Hatters cruised to the win.
Stetson will take a break from ASUN play and remain in Florida as they travel to Coral Gables on Wednesday, March 26, to face the Miami Hurricanes at 6:00 PM.
