Tallahassee, Fla. – The Stetson Hatters gave as well as the got on Tuesday night in the opening game of a mid-week series at Florida State.
 
The Hatters (18-21) and Seminoles (25-14) battled to the final out with FSU escaping with a 9-8 victory.
 
The teams will meet again on Wednesday afternoon at Dick Howser Stadium with the first pitch scheduled for 4 p.m.
 
Stetson jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the opening inning against FSU starter Conor Grady, the first of six pitchers in the game for the Seminoles. Jorge Arenas doubled home Jacob Koos for the first run and Eric Foggo followed with a run scoring single to plate Kyle Ball.
 
FSU came back against Stetson starter Bret Neilan (1-4) in the second, getting a two-out RBI single from Elijah Cabell before Matheu Nelson followed with a two-run homer for a 3-2 lead.
 
The Seminoles added three more runs in the third with J.C. Flowers delivering a two-out RBI single for the first run before Nico Baldor followed with another two-run homer, pushing the lead to 6-2.
 
Stetson came back in the fourth inning, scoring three runs off Clayton Kwiatkowski to get to within 6-5. Benito Varela and Koos singled in front of Ball, who blasted his first home run of the year to get Stetson within one.
 
FSU scored another run in the fourth on a two-out solo homer by Reese Albert.
 
Stetson drew even in the seventh inning, scoring a pair of unearned runs off Jonah Scolaro (2-0). Ball started the inning with a deep flight into the right field corner that Albert over-ran for a three-base error. Arenas plated him with a sacrifice fly to make it 7-6.
 
Foggo delivered a double and then came in to score on an infield single by Baylen Sparks when FSU second baseman Nander de Sedas overthrew first base on the play.
 
FSU answered again in the bottom of the frame, getting a pair of doubles from Nelson and Mike Salvatore before Robby Martin delivered a two-out RBI single.
 
Stetson got one of those runs back in the eighth inning when Koos delivered a two-out double off Antonio Velez and then scored on another hit by Arenas, his third.
 
With two runners on base, the Seminoles brought in center fielder / closer J.C. Flowers to pitch, and he got Foggo to line out to center to end the inning.
 
Stetson made one more run at FSU in the ninth, putting a pair of runners on base before Flowers closed out the game for his 10^th save.
 
Stetson had 13 hits in the game including three each from Koos and Arenas and two each from Foggo and Varela. Salvatore led FSU with three hits in the game.
 
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.