JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville baseball team fell to the Stetson Hatters 7-2 in game one of a three-part series on Friday night.
 
Tyler Hinrikus and Aidan Masters had two-hit days, but early runs from Stetson proved to be enough to give the Hatters a game one victory over the Dolphins (5-12, 0-1 ASUN) on opening day of conference play in the Atlantic Sun.
 
Stetson struck first with a solo home run in the second inning off the bat of Moran. The Hatters scored twice more in the third inning, with Dessereault hitting a solo shot and another run scoring from third on a double play. The fourth inning is where the Hatters did the most damage, scoring three more times and doubling their 3-0 lead into a six-run advantage. The frame started with a fly out from Moran, but an error by the JU second baseman allowed Stetson to have its first runner of the inning. Three consecutive singles, in addition to a stolen base, from Stetson extended the Hatters' lead to 6-0.
 
While Jacksonville got baserunners on in three of the first five innings, it wasn't until the sixth inning when Tyler Hinrikus led off the frame with a solo blast over the 405-foot center field wall that JU got on the scoreboard.
 
The Hatters and Dolphins traded a run apiece in the ninth inning, with Jacksonville's run coming on a Cade Hentz sacrifice fly to score Jaden Bastian, bringing the final score to 7-2. Evan Chrest (1-3) started on the mound for the Dolphins and surrendered three earned runs in six innings of work. He gave up eight hits and struck out four Hatters. Logan Jones came on in relief and gave up one run on three hits in three innings of work.

UP NEXT
The Dolphins return to action tomorrow night for part two of a three game series with the Stetson Hatters. First pitch is slated for 7 PM at John Sessions Stadium, and livestats can be followed on JUDolphins.com.