DELAND, FLA. -- Campbell fought back from a 3-0 deficit to tie the contest but it wasn't enough as Stetson pushed a runner across in the bottom of the eighth to take the 4-3 win in the first game of Friday's doubleheader at Melching Field at Conrad Park.

Stetson (15-14, 3-2 A-Sun) wasted no time in putting a scoring threat in place as the bases were loaded in the first inning and no outs following a leadoff single by Sean Emory, Mark Jones being hit by a pitch and Aaron Crittenden reaching on a error by Kevin Nelson at shortstop. Campbell starter Logan Davis was able to get Ryan Lashley to pop up to Ellis Lowe for the first out but gave up a two RBI single to left field to Spencer Theisen. Davis was able to manage the damage as he recorded two straight outs to get Campbell out of the inning.

Campbell (17-11, 4-7 A-Sun) produced a scoring threat in the top of the fifth as Zach Johnson registered a double down the left field line. Johnson advanced to third with just one out on the balk from starting pitcher Lindsey Caughel. Caughel was able to get out of the jam as he struck out Cameron Nelson and got Bryan Braswell to ground out to third to end the inning.

Stetson netted another run in the bottom of the fifth as Ryan Lashley reached on a single up the middle. After stealing his first base of the season, Lashley was knocked around by a single to left field from the bat of Spencer Theisen.

The Fighting Camels pushed a run across the plate but not after getting some help from a Stetson pair of errors. Chris Bangi singled to left center to register the only hit of the inning for Campbell. The next Camel to the plate was Ellis Lowe who sent a fly ball to left field. The ball was in the glove of left fielder Sean Emory but popped out and when Emory attempted to throw to second to get Bangi out the throw went errant and allowed Bangi to advance to third. Alan Denman registered the RBI as the junior grounded out to second but not before Bangi scampered across the plate.

Campbell came back and tied the score in the seventh inning as the Fighting Camels scored two runs off of four hits. Cousins Kevin and Cameron Nelson notched back to back singles to center field, they advanced a base as Lindsey Caughel was called for his second balk of the contest. With two outs though DJ Johnson came up with a clutch hit through the left side that scored both runners. Chris Bangi followed the Johnson single with a single of his own through the right side to put runners back at first and second.

That was the end of the day for Caughel and Stetson went to the arm of Nick Bohne to get the third out of the inning as Lowe lined out to second base. Caughel went 6.2 innings while giving up three runs, two of which were earned, off of eight hits.

Stetson came back in the bottom half of the inning and had Aaron Crittenden sitting at second with one out. Following Ryan Lashley flying out to right field, Spencer Theisen came up to the plate and sent a single to right field. As pinch runner Nathan Cox was rounding third Zach Johnson came up throwing and the throw beat Cox home as Bryan Braswell applied the tag just in time to record the third out.

The Fighting Camels put another scoring opportunity into place in the top of the eighth as Alan Denman led off with a double to left center field. Denman advanced to third as Alex Aycoth sacrificed bunted. Zach Johnson walked to put runners at first and third with just one out. Kevin Nelson popped up to the catcher to record the second out and brought up pinch hitter Bryce Grady. Grady slapped a ground ball down the first base line which was caught on the dive by Kurt Schluter. There was nobody covering first base and led to a race to first by reliever Ian Thompson and Grady to which Thompson beat Grady by a half step to record the third out.

Stetson went ahead for good in the bottom of the eighth as two walks but runners at first and second which gave way for Sean Emory to register an RBI as he sent a single up the middle to score Robert Crews from third. The Hatters loaded the bases again as Emory advanced to second on a wild pitch from Campbell reliever Daniel Gardo and an intentional walk to Mark Jones. Kevin Mierzwinski came in to pinch hit for Nathan Cox and preceded to ground into a fielders choice to end the inning.

Stetson closer Robbie Powell came into the game in the top of the ninth and gave up a two out single to Chris Bangi but recorded the third out and his third save as Ellis Lowe to pop up to the first baseman.