DELAND, FL – The ASUN Championship final didn't end the way Stetson envisioned, but the Hatters still walked away with history, hardware, and a place in the NCAA postseason. Despite a 6-5 loss to FGCU in a game that was called in the seventh inning due to inclement weather, Stetson was named Co-Tournament Champions and, as the tournament's No. 1 seed, earned the conference's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Regionals.
With the result, Stetson claims its second straight ASUN title and the 10th in program history. The Hatters will now make their 20th all-time appearance in the NCAA Regionals, capping a season that included back-to-back 40-win campaigns.
Stetson's offense was powered by the long ball on Sunday, launching three home runs at Melching Field. Trailing 2-0 early, the Hatters got on the board in the second when Jordan Taylor crushed a one-out solo homer to center. An inning later, they surged into the lead as Isaiah Barkett belted a two-run shot and Landon Moran followed with a solo home run of his own to make it 4-2.
The lead didn't last, as FGCU answered with a four-run fifth inning to pull ahead 6-4. Stetson clawed back in the bottom of the frame when freshman Foster Apple drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in Juan De La Cruz, trimming the deficit to one. But before either team could push across another run, the game was halted and eventually called due to weather, finalizing the result.
On the mound, senior Justin Solimine took the loss in relief, moving to 3-2 on the year. Sophomore Zane Coppersmith was a bright spot out of the bullpen, tossing two shutout innings without allowing a hit while striking out three.
At the plate, Barkett led the Hatters with a home run and two RBIs. Moran and Taylor each added a solo home run and an RBI as part of strong individual efforts. Though the game didn't reach its natural conclusion, the Hatters' body of work throughout the tournament and regular season spoke volumes.
Stetson was well-represented on the ASUN All-Tournament Team, with Landon Moran, Ty Van Dyke, Jake Gorelick, Isaiah Barkett, and Jordan Taylor earning honors. Taylor was named Co-MVP for his performance across the weekend.
With the ASUN title defense complete and another championship banner to hang, the Hatters now turn their attention to the NCAA Regionals, where they'll look to continue their postseason journey.
The NCAA Selection Show watch party will be held at Venue 142, with the public opening at 11:15 AM and the show beginning promptly at noon.
Join the team in celebrating the naming of ASUN Champions! Merchandise is available for purchase at the following link!
