The Stetson Hatters earned their first victory Friday night, over Colgate, 4-3 on a walk off squeeze bunt. The softball team rebounded after a 2-0 loss to Creighton in their first game of the Hatter Classic. 
 
"We had a good response in game two on both sides of the ball," said Head Coach Shellie Cousins. "Obviously we've struggled defensively to start the season, but I think that's a good confidence booster for the defense. Pitchers showed up and did their job today, so we are moving in the right direction despite a slow start." 
 
Hannah Marien was in the circle for the Hatters against Creighton and worked a great game, giving up only three hits over the seven innings while collecting three strikeouts. Unfortunately for Marien two runs scored due to five errors from the Hatters defense and they couldn't get any runs to cross the plate in the 2-0 loss. 
 
In game two, Lauren Hobbs was on the mound and her defense turned a double play to get out of the first inning. In the bottom of the first Addison Foster drew a walk and quickly stole second base. Madelyn Synoracki dropped a sac bunt down the third base line moving Foster over to third. Kami Eppley then dropped down a bunt as well and Foster beat the throw home as the Hatters drew first blood. Hobbs quickly worked through the second and was able to escape the third inning thanks to Annabella McClerren. McClerren displayed her rocket of an arm throwing the runner out who was trying to score from second on a single between third and short. Nothing was going for either team until the Hatters came up in the bottom of the fifth. Synoracki was able to single through the left side and then stole second. Marissa Baxter ripped a bullet back up the middle with two outs bringing Synoracki around to score. Nadia English pinch ran for Baxter and McClerren found the right center gap for an RBI double as English scored from first. Stetson entered the sixth inning with a 3-0 lead but that soon disappeared as four straight hits from the Raiders tied the game up. The two teams took the tied game into the top of the seventh when Colgate got their first two batters of the inning on base. Coach Cousins turned to her freshman pitcher Victoria Ash from the bullpen. The first batter that Ash faced grounded into a double player and she was able to get out of the inning with a strikeout. The top of the Hatter's lineup was slated for the bottom of the seventh. Foster once again drew a walk and stole second. Synoracki followed that up with a single through the right side and Foster was held at third. Coach Cousins called upon Briana Robinson to pinch hit for Eppley and she pushed the right button. Robinson laid down a beautiful bunt and Foster was able to beat the throw home as Stetson walked it off for their first win of the season 4-3. 
 
"[Victoria] has come in twice now and gotten the job done," stated Coach Cousins. "Like I said in the huddle she's got ice in her veins, she's a competitor, she wants the ball and good defense on top of it helped swing the momentum back to us." 
 
Ash earned her first collegiate win in only her second appearance. Synoracki recorded her first three hit game of her collegiate career against Colgate. 
 
The Hatters will be back at Patricia Wilson tomorrow for day two of the Hatter Classic. They will take on Bethune-Cookman and Creighton at 12pm and 2pm respectively as the games were moved up because of a rain storm scheduled to hit DeLand tomorrow.