DELAND, Fla. – The Stetson Hatters rode an early offensive outburst and strong pitching to a 6-2 win over the West Georgia Wolves on Friday night at Melching Field. Stetson plated four runs in the second inning and never trailed, improving to 31-16 overall and 19-3 in ASUN play.

Right-hander James Hays (4-0) delivered another quality start for the Hatters, matching his season high with seven innings pitched. He allowed two earned runs on four hits, walked two, and struck out seven, his second-highest strikeout total of the season. Sophomore Jake Gorelick was sharp in relief, retiring all six batters he faced over two scoreless innings with three strikeouts to close out the win.

The Hatters' bats got going early, sparked by a four-run second inning that featured a two-run single from Juan De La Cruz, who finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Freshman Foster Apple continued his hot streak at the plate, going 3-for-4 for his fourth multi-hit game in the last five contests.

Stetson added to its lead in the fifth when Evan Griffis crushed a two-out solo home run, his second of the season and the team's first in seven games. The 419-foot blast, which left the bat at 109 mph, pushed the Hatters' advantage to 5-2.

An inning later, De La Cruz drove in his second run of the night with an RBI single to cap the scoring at 6-2. From there, the Hatters' pitching staff kept the Wolves off the board, preserving the lead and securing the series-opening win.

Stetson and West Georgia return to action on Saturday, May 3, for game two of the series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Melching Field.