TAMPA, Fla. – Isaiah Barkett continued his hot streak Tuesday night, launching his first home run of the season to lead the Stetson Hatters to a 3-1 win over South Florida at USF Baseball Stadium. The win marked Stetson's fourth straight victory and its 10th in the last 11 games. The Hatters have also now won four straight against the Bulls.
Pitching and defense once again led the way for Stetson (21-13), which has now held opponents to two runs or fewer in 12 games this season. Sophomore left-hander Matthew Heyl (1-0) earned the win in relief, tossing three shutout innings while allowing two hits and two walks with one strikeout. Senior Ty Van Dyke closed it out with two scoreless frames, striking out two for his fourth save of the season. Including starter Turner Spoljaric, The Hatters' pitching staff held USF to just 1-for-9 (.111) with runners in scoring position.
Barkett, who hit back-to-back walk-off winners in the last two games, wasted no time getting Stetson on the board. The junior third baseman led off the game with a solo homer over the left field to give the Hatters an early 1-0 lead.
After the Bulls tied the game in the second, Stetson responded with a two-run fifth inning. Barkett delivered again, this time with an RBI single to put the Hatters ahead 3-1.
South Florida threatened in the fourth with runners on second and third and only one out, but Heyl escaped the jam with a critical strikeout. The Hatters' defense stepped up all night, highlighted by standout plays from Juan De La Cruz at second base in the fifth and a diving catch by right fielder Jordan Taylor in the seventh.
Perhaps the most clutch play came in the bottom of the eighth. With two runners on and just one out, Lorenzo Meola snagged a line drive at shortstop and, while falling back from the outfield grass, fired to second to complete an inning-ending double play.
The Hatters return home to Melching Field in DeLand for a weekend ASUN Conference series against North Florida. First pitch on Friday, April 11, is set for 6:30 p.m.
