DeLAND, Fla. — Stetson Baseball returns to Melching Field this weekend for its final home series of the 2026 regular season, hosting the Jacksonville Dolphins in a pivotal three-game ASUN Conference matchup.

The series begins Friday night at 6:30 p.m. before continuing Saturday at 6:30 p.m. and concluding Sunday at 1 p.m. as the Hatters look to continue building momentum heading into the final stretch of conference play.

Stetson enters the weekend fifth in the ASUN Graphite Division at 11-16 in league play, while Jacksonville currently sits third at 13-11.

SCOUTING THE HATTERS

Stetson comes into the weekend fresh off one of its most complete performances of the season, rolling to a 15-2 run-rule victory over the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats on Tuesday night at Melching Field.

The Hatters tied the most runs scored against Bethune-Cookman this season while recording their second-highest offensive output of the year. Stetson launched two home runs, drew nine walks and piled up 13 hits in the victory.

As a team, the Hatters are batting .259 with 400 hits, 259 runs scored and 108 extra-base hits while ranking among the ASUN leaders in stolen bases with 83 swipes on the year. On the mound, Stetson has struck out 390 batters across 406.1 innings pitched.

Landon Russell leads the Hatters with 53 hits and 78 total bases while batting .299 with four home runs and 27 RBIs. Russell is coming off a standout performance Tuesday night, launching a two-run homer and driving in four runs in the Hatters win.

Yohann Dessureault enters the series batting .301 with five home runs and a team-high 35 RBIs, while freshman Samuel Fernandez clubbed his team-leading 7th home run of the season on Tuesday, as he now has 29 RBIs.

The pitching staff continues to be anchored by Friday night starter James Hays, who leads the team with 70 strikeouts in 62 innings pitched.

SCOUTING THE DOLPHINS

Jacksonville enters the series with a 26-21 overall record and a 13-11 mark in ASUN play after winning two of three against Stetson earlier this season in Jacksonville.

The Dolphins have proven dangerous away from home despite a 9-12 road record, picking up ranked road victories over then-No. 21 and No. 12 Florida Gators in Gainesville as well as a win over then-No. 21 UCF Knights in Orlando.

Jacksonville is batting .269 as a team with 414 hits, 290 runs scored and a .374 on-base percentage while posting a 4.85 ERA on the mound.

Roger Vergara leads the Dolphin offense with a .340 batting average, 65 hits, 40 runs scored and 39 RBIs. Sammy Mummau carries a .294 average and .399 on-base percentage, while Derek Bermudez and Cade Walter have each slugged seven home runs this season.

SERIES HISTORY

The Hatters hold a 108-97-2 advantage in the all-time series history against Jacksonville and own a 58-40-2 record against the Dolphins in DeLand.

The two teams met earlier this season in Jacksonville, where the Dolphins claimed the opening two games before Stetson salvaged the series finale with a shutout victory.

PROJECTED PITCHING MATCHUPS

Friday

RHP James Hays (3-3, 4.50 ERA, 62 IP, 31 ER, 20 BB, 70 K)
vs.
LHP Alex Walsh (6-3, 4.53 ERA, 59.2 IP, 30 ER, 26 BB, 57 K)

Saturday

RHP Trace Hartman (3-5, 4.94 ERA, 47.1 IP, 26 ER, 19 BB, 39 K)
vs.
LHP Brendan Holland (4-4, 3.52 ERA, 61.1 IP, 24 ER, 25 BB, 67 K)

Sunday

LHP Connor Ball (2-2, 4.32 ERA, 41.2 IP, 20 ER, 9 BB, 35 K)
vs.
LHP Kyle Powers (1-2, 5.35 ERA, 33.2 IP, 20 ER, 10 BB, 19 K)

All pitching matchups are subject to change.

WEEKEND PROMOTIONS

Friday night will feature Nine Innings of Winning at Melching Field.

Saturday's contest will serve as Senior Night, as the Hatters honor their graduating class prior to first pitch in the final Saturday home game of the season.

Fans attending Sunday's finale can also pick up the third set of 2026 Stetson Baseball trading cards, available while supplies last.

COVERAGE & FOLLOW ALONG

While there will be no video broadcast this weekend due to commencement, an audio-only broadcast will be available for all three games. Live stats can be found on the Stetson Baseball schedule page at GoHatters.com.

Fans can stay up to date with Stetson Baseball all weekend long by following the Hatters on social media and visiting GoHatters.com for scores, highlights, schedule updates and complete coverage.

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.