CARROLLTON, Ga. – The Stetson Hatters picked up their first conference series sweep, securing two victories in a Saturday doubleheader over the West Georgia Wolves in Carrollton, Georgia.
GAME 1 | Stetson 11, West Georgia 2
CARROLLTON, Ga. – Senior Jonathan Gonzalez was dominant on the mound, striking out eight West Georgia batters over seven innings to lead Stetson to an 11-2 win.
Gonzalez (4-1) gave up two earned runs on seven hits, walked one, and fanned eight. Senior Justin Solimine also contributed out of the bullpen, throwing two scoreless innings, allowing three hits, no walks, and striking out three.
Offensively, the Hatters were led by junior Isaiah Barkett, who went 4-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs. Freshman Foster Apple had a solid performance as well, going 2-for-6 with three RBIs. Junior Landon Russell added three hits in three plate appearances, along with two walks. As a team, Stetson out-hit West Georgia 15-10 and finished 6-for-18 (.333) with runners in scoring position.
The Hatters wasted no time getting on the board, scoring a run in the top of the first inning as Barkett crossed the plate. After briefly losing the lead, Stetson regained control in the sixth, scoring six runs, including a two-run single by Apple, to take a 7-2 lead.
In the following inning, the Hatters added another run on an RBI single by Apple. They continued to pour it on in the eighth, scoring three more runs, capped by a two-RBI double from Barkett. The Hatters held the Wolves scoreless the rest of the way, coasting to an 11-2 victory.
GAME 2 | Stetson 11, West Georgia 6
CARROLLTON, Ga. – The Hatters completed the sweep with an 11-6 win over West Georgia in the second game of the doubleheader. After a 3-3 tie in the seventh inning, Stetson exploded for eight runs in the eighth to secure the victory.
Sophomore Zane Coppersmith (3-2) earned the win out of the bullpen, throwing two innings and allowing three earned runs on three hits, with one walk and two strikeouts. Sophomore Matthew Heyl was also effective, tossing 3.2 shutout innings, giving up three hits, one walk, and striking out two.
The Hatters were strong at the plate, going 5-for-12 (.417) with runners in scoring position, and collecting four hits in five at-bats with the bases loaded. As a team, Stetson out-hit the Wolves 11-10.
Trailing 3-0, Stetson answered in the fifth inning with a three-run homer from sophomore Juan De La Cruz, tying the game at 3-3. The game remained tied until the eighth, when the Hatters erupted for eight runs. Junior Landon Russell drove in two with a single, and junior Lorenzo Meola added another two-run single, putting Stetson ahead 11-3. West Georgia managed three runs in the ninth, but it wasn't enough, and Stetson cruised to an 11-6 victory.
The Hatters will continue their road trip with a game at UCF on April 1 at 6:30 PM.
