DELAND -- Stetson defeated FIU, 5-3, Wednesday night at Melching Field in DeLand.

The Hatters improved to 18-3 while the Panthers are now 10-13.

Down 2-1 in the bottom of the third inning, the Hatters scored twice off Panthers starter Andrew George (0-1) to take the lead for good. Brooks Wilson's RBI single tied the score. Mike Spooner pushed across the go-ahead run on an RBI fielder's choice.

FIU scored its first two runs in the first two innings of the game.

In the first, Derek Cartaya led the game off with a walk. Logan Allen singled. Austin Shenton's sacrifice bunt moved the runners over before Jose Garcia's sacrifice fly plated Cartaya.

Christian Khawam singled in the second and came around to score on an error by Stetson second baseman Nico Torino.

The Panthers nearly came back against the Hatters closer Wilson, who had a 19 2/3 innings scoreless streak to start the season. FIU snapped that streak when Diandre Amion singled home Lorenzo Hampton, Jr. in the ninth. However, 5-3 was as close as FIU would come.

On deck, FIU hosts Old Dominion starting Friday in a three-game Conference USA series at Infinity Insurance Park. First pitch for the series opener is at 7 p.m.