DeLAND, Fla. — Stetson University opened the Stetson Invitational with a pair of victories Friday at Patricia Wilson Field, defeating Columbia University 10-6 before topping St. John's University 7-1.

In the opener, the Hatters erased an early 2-0 deficit after Columbia used two first-inning doubles to take the lead. Stetson answered in the third when Nicole Edmiaston tied the game with a two-run home run. Logan Forman followed with a solo shot to give the Hatters a 3-2 advantage.

The turning point came in the fourth inning as Stetson plated six runs. Annabella McClerren and Irianis Garcia each delivered RBI singles, and Edmiaston added a two-RBI single during the rally, which was aided by a Columbia error. The Hatters built a 9-5 cushion by the end of the frame. Forman tacked on an RBI single in the fifth, and although Columbia added a solo homer in the seventh, Stetson secured the 10-6 win.

Kennedy Temples started in the circle, allowing four earned runs over 3 1/3 innings. Jenna Johnston was effective in relief, giving up just one earned run on two hits across 3 2/3 innings while striking out two. Edmiaston paced the offense with three hits, including her home run, and four RBIs. Forman added two hits and two RBIs, while Garcia collected two hits and scored three times.

In Game 2, Stetson set the tone immediately with a five-run first inning. McClerren and Garcia opened with singles, and after Edmiaston reached to extend her hitting streak to 13 games, Gaby Bauer lined a two-run double down the right-field line. Gabby David capped the inning with a three-run homer to left-center, giving the Hatters a commanding 5-0 lead.

St. John's scored its lone run on a solo home run in the second, but Stetson maintained control. The Hatters added two more runs in the fifth when Garcia launched a two-run homer after McClerren reached base, stretching the lead to 7-1.

Ava Braswell delivered a complete-game performance in the circle, allowing just three hits and one earned run over seven innings. She walked two, struck out two and induced 16 ground-ball outs in an efficient 81-pitch outing.

David finished with three RBIs, Garcia recorded two hits, two RBIs and two runs scored, and Bauer added a key two-run double as the Hatters completed the Friday sweep.

Head Coach Shellie Cousins expressed satisfaction with the Hatters' performance following their victory. She remarked, "it was a good bounce back after Wednesday," and noted her anticipation leading into the game, admitting she was "very anxious to see how we would respond and very happy with how they came out guns blazing today." Cousins highlighted the impressive form of Braswell, stating, "all week she's been really cruising. Especially today, her confidence from last year to this year is astronomically different, and that has a lot to do with her success so far." Reflecting on the team's offensive strategy, Cousins emphasized the importance of focus and patience at the plate: "stay disciplined, stay in the zone, and get a good barrel to a ball. The results will come, but just trust the process."

Stetson will continue play in the Stetson Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 20 at Patricia Wilson Field, with first pitch scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

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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.