DeLAND, FL – Junior first baseman Landon Moran delivered two extra-base hits, including a grand slam, but the Stetson Hatters fell to the FGCU Eagles, 14-12, in their ASUN Conference opener on Friday night at Melching Field. Despite the loss, the Hatters outhit the Eagles 15-13, with six players recording multi-hit games.

Senior Dylan Jacobs started on the mound for Stetson (9-10, 0-1 ASUN) and took his first loss of the season. Zane Coppersmith made another appearance out of the bullpen, striking out five Eagles over 2.1 innings.

Moran went 2-for-4 with a double, a home run, a walk, and four RBIs. Freshman Foster Apple also had a strong day at the plate, going 3-for-5 with an RBI. Junior shortstop Lorenzo Meola added two hits and an RBI in five at-bats.

After trailing 9-0, the Hatters put their first runs on the board in the third inning. Jordan Taylor's double put runners in scoring position, one of which was driven in on a Isaiah Barkett sacrifice fly, cutting the deficit to 9-2.

FGCU extended their lead to 12-2 before Stetson's offense sparked in the fifth. The Hatters scored four runs in the inning, highlighted by a one-run single from Landon Russell, narrowing the Eagles' lead to 12-6. Jayden Hylton, making his first appearance since the win over UMBC, also added an RBI single in the inning.

The Hatters held the Eagles scoreless in the sixth and narrowed the gap to 12-10 in the seventh. Moran's 104-mph grand slam to deep right field capped the rally and brought Stetson back into the game.

FGCU added two more runs to extend their lead to 14-10, but Stetson didn't give up. In the bottom of the ninth, Meola and Moran each crossed the plate, bringing the Hatters within two runs at 14-12. However, the Hatters couldn't get any closer, and the game ended with no further scoring.

Stetson will return to action tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at Melching Field, hosting FGCU in the second game of their three-game series.