DELAND, Fla. -- The University of North Alabama baseball team mounted a rally in the ninth inning but it wasn't enough as the Lions dropped a 5-2 decision to Stetson in the opening game of an ASUN Conference series.

The Lions trailed 5-1 going to the ninth and scored a run on three hits but left two runners on as the Hatters were able to stop the rally.

After allowing 10 or more runs in the previous six games, the Lions got a solid pitching performance from starter Jacob Bradshaw, who allowed just two runs on five hits over the first six innings.

Stetson scored those two runs in the third inning and UNA got one in the eighth to make it a 2-1 game. Dominick McIntyre singled, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on an Ethan Walker RBI-single.

Following Bradshaw on the mound, Carson Howard pitched a scoreless seventh inning before allowing three runs in the bottom of the eighth.

In the ninth, Gehrig Frei got a leadoff double and scored on an Andrew Knight RBI-single. Jackson Ferrigno also singled but the runners were left on base.

The Lions were held to seven hits in the loss.

Bradshaw (1-2) took the loss.

UNA is now 5-19 overall and 0-7 in the ASUN.

The Lions and Hatters play game two of the series on Saturday at 5:30 p.m.