CARROLLTON, Ga. — Facing a five-run deficit entering the ninth inning, Stetson delivered one of its most dramatic rallies in recent memory Friday night, erupting for eight runs in the final frame to defeat the West Georgia Wolves baseball 13-10 at Cole Field.
The Hatters (16-25, 7-11 ASUN) trailed 10-5 entering the ninth before sending 12 men to the plate and flipping the game with a furious comeback, highlighted by a game-tying three-run home run from Jayden Hylton and a go-ahead bases-clearing double from Renzo Gonzalez.
Stetson struck first in the opening inning when Landon Russell launched a solo home run to left for a 1-0 lead, but West Georgia (11-31, 8-11 ASUN) answered in the third with a two-run homer to move in front.
The Hatters tied the game in the fifth when Juan De La Cruz came home on a defensive miscue, but the Wolves responded with a three-run homer and later added two more long balls to build a 10-4 advantage through seven innings.
Stetson began chipping away in the eighth when Jayden Hylton came around to score on an error, setting the stage for a stunning ninth.
Trailing by five, the Hatters' offense came alive. After loading the bases, Hylton delivered the biggest swing of the night, launching a three-run homer to pull Stetson even at 10-10. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded again, Gonzalez ripped a double into the gap to clear the bases and give the Hatters a 13-10 lead.
The rally completed one of the largest late-inning comebacks in program history.
Gonzalez led a 13-hit attack, going 3-for-6 with five RBIs, while Russell and Foster Apple each homered and De La Cruz scored three times.
On the mound, James Hays struck out nine across 5.1 innings, while the bullpen regrouped late. T.J. Melani picked up his first win as a Hatter, and Dallis Moran closed the door in the ninth for his second save.
Stetson's pitching staff combined for 15 strikeouts in the victory.
"Our pitching staff has been throwing the ball outstanding over the course of the last eight weeks, and we really needed to get our offense going to make a run," Head Coach Steve Trimper said. "Tonight the offense responded and got hot, and we have to keep that going. Kudos to a lot of our hitters who broke out and didn't have any quit. The fight among this team was amazing, and we need to continue that down the stretch."
KEY PERFORMERS
GAME NOTES
- Stetson erased a 10-5 deficit with eight runs in the ninth inning
- The Hatters scored in six different innings
- Every Stetson starter reached base safely
- Stetson recorded 13 hits, including three home runs
- Four Hatters posted multi-hit games
- Renzo Gonzalez drove in a career-high five runs
- Hatters pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts
- De La Cruz stole two bases
- Stetson out-hit West Georgia 13-11
- The Hatters improved to 10-4 this season when hitting a home run
UP NEXT
Stetson continues its ASUN series against the West Georgia Wolves baseball on Saturday in Carrollton. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.
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.
