DeLAND, Fla. — Stetson Baseball closed out its final home weekend of the regular season in style Sunday afternoon, defeating the Jacksonville Dolphins 9-6 at Melching Field to secure the series win on Senior Day.
The Hatters (21-30, 11-15 ASUN) collected 14 hits and used a decisive four-run sixth inning to pull away, earning their third ASUN series victory of the season and their final home win of the regular season.
Jacksonville struck first in the opening inning, but Stetson answered immediately in the bottom half. Juan De La Cruz doubled into the gap before Jack Harley drove him home with an RBI single. Moments later, Yohann Dessureault launched a two-run 404 foot homer to center field to give the Hatters a 3-1 advantage.
Stetson added another run in the third inning when Dessureault drove in Harley with a groundout to make it 4-1.
After Jacksonville trimmed the deficit in the fifth, the Hatters broke the game open in the sixth. De La Cruz delivered a two-run single before Harley followed with a two-run base hit of his own, extending the Stetson lead to 8-4.
The Hatters added an insurance run in the seventh when Samuel Fernandez delivered an RBI single to score Dessureault.
Jacksonville threatened late with two runs in the eighth, but Stetson's bullpen closed the door as Andrew Lepine worked a scoreless ninth inning with two strikeouts to secure the win and his fourth save of the season.
Trace Hartman turned in a strong start on the mound, allowing just two earned runs across five innings while striking out four. Dallis Moran earned the win in relief, while Zane Coppersmith and Lepine combined to close out the victory.
The win gave Stetson a series victory over Jacksonville and a memorable sendoff on Senior Day in the Hatters' final regular season home game.
GAME NOTES
- Stetson earned its third ASUN series victory of the season
- The Hatters collected 14 hits in the win
- Stetson scored four runs in the sixth inning
- The Hatters went 7-for-13 (.538) with runners in scoring position
- Five Hatters recorded multiple hits
- Stetson out-hit Jacksonville 14-8
- Andrew Lepine earned his fourth save of the season
- The Hatters finished the regular season home schedule with a Senior Day victory
KEY PERFORMERS
UP NEXT
Stetson hits the road next weekend for its final ASUN series of the regular season. They will head to Charlotte, NC to face the Queens Royals starting Thursday at 6:00 PM. All three games of the series will be streamed to ESPN+.
Fans can continue to follow Stetson Baseball on social media and visit GoHatters.com for schedules, scores, highlights and postseason updates.
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.
