CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Junior Jordan Taylor delivered a season-high four hits to help power the Stetson Hatters past the Queens Royals, 11-4, on Thursday night in Charlotte. After having their seven-game win streak snapped by Florida on Tuesday, the Hatters bounced back in a big way, improving to 14-2 in conference play.
Taylor continued his hot streak, recording at least one RBI in four of his last five games and launching his second home run over that stretch. Junior Jayden Hylton also found his power stroke, blasting a pinch-hit two-run homer—his first since the team's opening weekend in Puerto Rico.
Sophomore Jake Gorelick (3-0) earned the win out of the bullpen for Stetson (25-14), tossing 4.2 hitless, scoreless innings with no walks and two strikeouts. Justin Solimine started the game, striking out three over 4.1 innings.
Taylor led the offense with a home run, four hits, and three RBIs. Junior Landon Russell turned in a strong performance as well, going 2-for-4 with a double, a walk, and three RBIs. Every Stetson starter reached base, as the Hatters outhit Queens 13-6.
Stetson scored in six different innings, starting with a first-inning groundout RBI by Juan De La Cruz following a leadoff single by Isaiah Barkett. Taylor extended the lead in the second with a solo shot to left, and later added an RBI single in the fourth. Russell followed with a two-run double, scoring Foster Apple and Taylor to make it 5-0.
Queens responded with four runs in the bottom of the fifth, but Stetson answered quickly. In the sixth, Evan Griffis came off the bench to deliver a clutch pinch-hit RBI single, scoring Nelphie Lopez to make it 6-4.
The Hatters added insurance in the eighth as Russell singled home Taylor, who had singled and stolen second. Hylton then crushed the first pitch he saw for a two-run homer. In the ninth, Stetson capped the scoring with a sacrifice fly by Landon Moran and an RBI single from Taylor, sealing their 25th win of the season.
The Hatters will return to action Friday night for Game 2 of their road series against the Royals, with first pitch set for 6:00 PM at The Stick Williams Dream Field in Charlotte.
