DELAND, Fla. -- That first inning thing again. Bethune-Cookman fell behind at the outset and things didn't get much better after that in an 8-2 loss to No. 30 Stetson Thursday at Melching Field at Conrad Park.

The Hatters (21-5) parlayed one infield single, three walks, a wild pitch and a hit batter into four runs to take early control of the first game of the three-game series between the Volusia County rivals.

This was the 14th time this season the Wildcats (10-16) have given up first innings run. The Wildcats are 2-12 in those games.

The Wildcats got in the board in the sixth when Zach Spivey led off with a single, stole second and scored on Kyle Corbin's single to center.

They added a run in the ninth when Chase DeBonis scored on Ian Claudio's single.

Bethune-Cookman mounted a scoring threat in the fifth when DeBonis led off with a single, then Adonis Lao and Nate Sterijevski were plunked to load the bases with one out. Stetson got out of the jam with a strikeout and a grounder to preserve a 5-0 lead.

Michael Deeb also registered a hit for the Wildcats.

Lao provided the first defensive gem of the game in the second when his frozen rope from left to DeBonis behind the dish to slap the tag on the runner for the third out. Close behind was Ian Claudio's snag of a Stetson liner for the first out of the sixth.

Jeremy Adams (1-3) took the loss. Isaak Gutierrez had a solid four and one-third innings of relief, walking two and striking out two while giving up a run. Brandon Wilkes gave up two runs and struck out three in his two and two-third innings while David Mata closed it out in the eighth.

The teams met again Friday, with Anthony Maldonado (2-1, 4.98 ERA) facing off against Logan Gilbert (5-0, 2.57)