DeLAND, Fla. — Stetson University scored eight runs in the sixth inning to rally past the University of Maine 12-4 on Saturday at Patricia Wilson Field, improving to 7-1 on the season.
Maine struck first in the second inning with a three-run home run by Neve Adams, putting the Hatters in an early 3-0 hole. Stetson answered in the fifth. Annabella McClerren and Irianis Garcia reached base to set the table for Nicole Edmiaston, who launched a three-run homer to center field to tie the game. The blast extended Edmiaston's hitting streak to eight games.
The Hatters took control in the sixth with a decisive eight-run frame. Jahnnie Patterson ignited the rally with a leadoff double, and Stetson strung together quality at-bats while capitalizing on two Maine errors. Patterson punctuated the inning with her first career home run — a grand slam — to seal the comeback victory.
Kennedy Temples started in the circle, tossing four innings while allowing four runs on four hits and striking out two. Ava Braswell earned the win in relief, delivering two scoreless innings with two strikeouts and no walks, surrendering just one hit.
Patterson finished with three hits, including a double and the grand slam, driving in four runs. Edmiaston went deep and drove in four runs while scoring three times. McClerren added two hits, two runs scored and two RBIs as the Hatters totaled five hits in the pivotal sixth inning.
Head Coach Shellie Cousins praised the team's adjustments and steady approach after falling behind early.
"Everybody did a really good job. We made little adjustments about midway through," Cousins said. "Hitting is contagious, and once we started to string quality at-bats together, you could feel the momentum shift."
She also emphasized the importance of fundamentals.
"It's the routine ones that win ballgames," Cousins said. "When we take care of the routine plays and stay locked in, good things happen."
Looking ahead to Sunday's finale, Cousins stressed the need to stay focused.
"Finish the weekend, right? It doesn't matter what you've done the past three days — we've got to finish the weekend. We've got to attack."
Stetson will wrap up the Hatter Classic on Sunday against Maine at Patricia Wilson Field. First pitch is set for 10:00 a.m.
Article partially generated with FanWord.
About Stetson Athletics
At Stetson University, student-athletes don't just compete—they thrive. Located in historic DeLand, Florida, between Orlando and Daytona Beach, Stetson offers the perfect blend of competitive athletics, academic excellence, and an unbeatable Central Florida lifestyle. As the oldest private university in the region, Stetson supports approximately 500 student-athletes across 19 NCAA Division I sports. Nicknamed the "Hatters" after the institution's namesake John B. Stetson, a hat manufacturer who originated the modern-day cowboy hat, most Stetson athletic teams compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference, where they proudly hold the longest active membership since 1985. With top-tier facilities, personalized support, and a welcoming campus community, Stetson is where students can grow, compete, and succeed. Learn more at GoHatters.com or follow social media accounts @StetsonHatters.
