DeLAND, Fla. — Stetson Baseball split Saturday's ASUN doubleheader against the Jacksonville Dolphins at Melching Field, falling 5-4 in the opener before responding with a 16-6 run-rule victory in game two.
The split moved the Hatters to 20-30 overall and 10-15 in ASUN play entering Sunday's regular season home finale.
GAME ONE: Jacksonville 5, Stetson 4
Stetson battled throughout the opener but stranded 14 runners on base in a narrow 5-4 loss.
Jacksonville jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third inning before the Hatters answered in the bottom half when Samuel Fernandez lifted a sacrifice fly to score Landon Russell.
After the Dolphins added another run in the fourth, Stetson trimmed the deficit to 3-2 in the sixth as Renzo Gonzalez delivered an RBI single to score Cade Centracchio.
Jacksonville extended the lead with a two-run homer in the seventh before the Hatters mounted one final push. Stetson scored twice in the bottom half, highlighted by an RBI single from Andrew Ezell, but the tying run was left stranded as the Dolphins held on for the 5-4 victory.
Gonzalez paced the offense with three hits and an RBI, while every Stetson starter reached base safely in the loss.
Junior James Hays (3-4) took the loss despite allowing just three runs over 5.1 innings without issuing a walk. TJ Melani turned in another strong bullpen outing, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings.
GAME ONE NOTES
- Every Stetson starter reached base safely
- The Hatters stranded 14 runners on base
- Renzo Gonzalez collected three hits
- TJ Melani tossed 2.1 scoreless innings in relief
GAME TWO: Stetson 16, Jacksonville 6 (7 inn.)
The Hatters answered emphatically in game two, exploding offensively after a lengthy weather delay to earn a 16-6 run-rule victory and split the doubleheader.
Jacksonville built an early 4-0 lead through two innings before weather halted play for nearly two hours. When the teams returned to the field, it was all Stetson.
The Hatters immediately stormed back in the third inning. Andrew Ezell singled before Juan De La Cruz was hit by a pitch, setting the table for Landon Russell to drive in the first run with an RBI single. Renzo Gonzalez followed with a sacrifice fly before Yohann Dessureault launched a two-run homer to tie the game at 4-4.
After Jacksonville briefly regained the lead in the fourth inning, the Hatters erupted again in the fifth. Gonzalez tied the game with an RBI single before freshman Samuel Fernandez crushed a three-run homer to give Stetson an 8-5 advantage.
The Hatters continued to pile on from there, scoring three runs in the sixth and five more in the seventh to secure the run-rule victory.
Gonzalez powered the offense with a 3-for-4 performance and four RBIs, while Dessureault and Fernandez each homered and drove in three runs. Russell added three RBIs and scored three times.
Joel Core (1-2) earned the win in relief after striking out four over three innings. Ethan Phillips also provided key innings out of the bullpen, allowing just one run over 2.2 innings.
GAME TWO NOTES
- Stetson scored 16 runs, its third-highest offensive output of the season
- The Hatters erased a 4-0 deficit
- Stetson went 7-for-13 with runners in scoring position
- Renzo Gonzalez drove in four runs
- Yohann Dessureault and Samuel Fernandez each homered
- The Hatters out-hit Jacksonville 12-6
- Stetson pitchers limited Jacksonville to 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position
KEY PERFORMERS
6-for-9, 5 RBI, 2B across both games
4-for-9, HR, 4 RBI, 4 R
HR, 3 RBI in game two
HR, 4 RBI across the doubleheader
2.1 scoreless innings in game one
3.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 K (W)
UP NEXT
Stetson closes out its final home series of the regular season Sunday afternoon against the Jacksonville Dolphins at Melching Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m., with Senior Day festivities taking place prior to the game.
An audio-only broadcast and live stats will be available through GoHatters.com. Fans can also follow Stetson Baseball on social media for updates and coverage throughout the weekend.
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.
