DELAND, Fla.- Down 5-0, Savannah State put on a late rally but fell short in a 5-3 loss to Stetson at Melching Field.

The Hatters (28-7) scored once in the first inning and three more times in the second for a 4-0 lead. Stetson added another run in the fifth to expand their lead to 5-0 as Nick Rickles led off with a solo home run.

In the seventh, SSU left a pair of runners on base but were only able to score one run.

Joseph McCrary led off with a single but was thrown out trying to steal second. Peter Poole singled which was followed by a double by Emory Barkley. A walk to Todd Hagen loaded the bases for Kevin Herlihy who got out at first but allowed Poole to score to cut their deficit to 5-1. A flyout by Chris Arnold ended the Tigers half of the inning.

Savannah State stranded two runners in the eighth without scoring but was able to send two runners across home plate in the top of the ninth as Arnold hit a RBI double and Don Jackson hit a run scoring single.

McCrary had three hits for SSU (20-18) while Herlihy and Jackson each had two hits. Kyle McGowin pitched seven innings and struck out five but surrendered 10 hits 5 runs and 3 walks.

Kurt Schulter earned the win for the Hatters as he fanned four batters and gave up one run in 6.1 innings. Rickles had three hits and drove in two runs for Stetson.