DeLand, Fla. - A complete game two-hitter from right-hander Austin Amaral and production all the way through the lineup greeted fans at Melching Field on Friday night, as the Stetson Hatters defeated the Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers 18-0 in run-rule fashion.

Amaral (2-1), who entered the night tied for the ASUN lead in strikeouts to go along with a 2.89 ERA, turned in his best performance of the young season, holding The Mount to just a pair of hits and two walks while striking out nine for the complete game, shutout victory. The complete game was the first of his career.

Stetson (7-3) took advantage of a quartet of Mountaineer errors in the bottom of the second, taking a 3-0 lead without recording a hit. Second basemen Yohann Desserault opened  things up with a walk and moved over to second on a ground out, before moving to third as designated hitter Brandon Hylton reached on an error. Desserault would score the game's first run three pitches later when shortstop Andrew Estrella also reached on an error. A failed pickoff saw the runners move to second and third before center Cameron Hill drove in Hylton with an RBI groundout. An errant throw to third base would see Estrella come in to score as well.

Third baseman David Bermudez added to the lead the next inning, driving a 1-1 offering into the Mount St. Mary (5-4) bullpen to push the lead to 4-0 with his first home run of the season. Following a flyout to deep right-center and a double off the wall in right off the bat of Desserault, catcher Christian Pregent got in on the action, peppering the batter's eye in center field for a two-run homer, his fourth on the year, for a 6-0 Hatter lead.

Stetson would break things open in the bottom of the fourth inning, plating seven runs on five hits and three walks to push the advantage to 13-0.  A deep flyout opened the inning, before HIll, left fielder Evan Griffis, and Bermudez all drew walks to load the bases for first baseman Logan Moran, who ripped a single to center field to plate Hill. The Hatters would add runs driven in by Desserault, Pregents (two), Brandon Hylton, Estrella, and Hill to cap off the offensive explosion.

Pinch hitter Drew Wyers worked a walk to open the bottom of the sixth inning, followed by a single from catcher Daniel Labrador, before a double from Brandon Hylton drove him in. The Hatters continued to roll in the inning, as Estrella, third  baseman Lorenzo Meola, first baseman Trae Harmon and Jayden Hylton all drove in a run to make the advantage 18-0.

Pregent led the way at the plate for the Hatters, going 2-for-3 with four RBI, while Estrella was 1-for-3 with three RBI. Hill and Brandon Hylton each drove in a pair and had a pair of hits.

Stetson is back in action at the MAC three more times this weekend, facing off against Pittsburgh at 6:30 PM tomorrow night and 2:00 PM Sunday afternoon, before closing out the week on Monday night at 6:30 PM against Mount St. Mary's.
 

About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program is driven by a shared purpose. It is what inspires, motivates and binds us together. More than a task, a reason for being. THE HATTER PURPOSE is to create and provide an experience of a lifetime through teamwork and relationships to achieve excellence. This purpose is achieved through five Core Values: Communication, Integrity, Excellence, Value People and Commitment. To learn more about the HATS program and our Core Values, visit GoHatters.com/HATS (PDF).

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