FIRST PITCH
Score: Stetson 1 | Queens 0
Records: Stetson (19-13 overall, 9-2 ASUN) | Queens (4-25 overall, 2-9 ASUN)
Location: Melching Field at Conrad Park (DeLand, Fla.)
 
The Short Story:
After both offenses were held scoreless for nine innings of baseball, the Stetson Hatters knocked home the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10^th inning to secure the weekend series over the Royals. The Queens pitching staff was dominant on the night, surrendering just one run on eight hits while striking out 11 Hatters.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-Queens earned the first scoring opportunity in the bottom of the second inning following a leadoff double down the right field line from Justin Hudson. The junior advanced to third on a throwing error by the Hatters catcher on a back pick attempt. Stetson starter Jonathan Gonzalez settled in and retired the next three Royals via the strikeout to escape the jam.
-After being held in check early, Stetson got their first scoring opportunity in the bottom of the third inning. Isaiah Barkett laced a one-out double to center field before advancing to third on an infield groundout. Lorenzo Meola worked a two-out walk to put runners on the corners and swiped second to put a pair in scoring position. Royals starter Ryan Brown remained poised and struck out Landon Moran to strand the runners and keep the game scoreless.
-In the bottom of the fifth inning, Nelphie Lopez sent a pinch hit leadoff single to right center to get the Hatters offense started. Brown would induce an infield pop-up before Lopez stole second. Queens turned to veteran Landry Jurecka who picked up consecutive ground outs to end the threat.
-With both teams still scoreless, the Hatters went into the bottom of the ninth inning looking to walk it off. Landry Jurecka struck out the first two Hatters he faced, but Jordan Taylor ripped a double down the left field line to get the Stetson offense in business. However, Jurecka rose to the momentum and fanned Evan Griffis to send the game into extras.
-In extra innings, the Royals bats went down quietly setting up Stetson for a walk-off opportunity. The Hatters turned to Jayden Hylton as a pinch hitter and he delivered a leadoff double to right center to put the home team in business. Sam Downey came in to pinch run and advanced to third on a bunt single by Juan De La Cruz. With the winning run on third and nobody out, Isaiah Barkett delivered the big blow with an RBI single up the middle to plate the winning run and clinch the weekend series for the Hatters.

BY THE NUMBERS
-Freshman Ryan Brown made his fifth start of the season and turned in a dominant performance. The Ashland, Kentucky native twirled 4.1 scoreless innings holding the Hatters to three hits while striking out a season-high four batters.
-Right-hander Landry Jurecka was solid out of the bullpen tossing 4.2 innings allowing just one run on five hits while striking out seven Hatters. The junior lowered his season ERA to 4.43 as he's only surrendered five runs over his last 16 innings of work in ASUN play.
-Senior Will Budnick recorded his seventh multi-hit game of the season with a 2-for-4 night at the plate.
-Outfielder Justin Hudson turned in a 1-for-4 performance, including a double. The junior has impressed this weekend with three doubles in the last two games.
-Lenox Lively came in to catch in the fourth inning and put together a 1-for-2 night at the plate, including a walk.
-Anibal Rivera, Jay Polite, and Chase Fogg each worked a walk to round out the Royals on the basepaths.
-Stetson got a quality start from Jonathan Gonzalez as the southpaw tossed 6.2 scoreless innings allowing just three hits while striking out 10.
-Queens struggled to get the timely hit, stranding nine runners on base. The Hatters also left seven runners on base as both pitching staffs locked down frames.

NEXT UP
Queens and Stetson will wrap up the three-game weekend series on Sunday, April 6^th at 1:00 p.m. Fans can purchase their tickets in advance by visiting the Queens Athletics website.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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