MELBOURNE, FL – The Setters dropped their season opener on Friday against the Florida Institute of Technology, 2-1.

The game remained scoreless until the bottom of the third when the Panthers jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a two-out single that plated a pair of runs.

The Setters chipped away at the lead in the top of the eighth. Following a fielder's choice, sophomore John Kukura swiped second base to jump into scoring position. The very next batter, freshman Michael Gulino ripped a double down the right field line to score Kukura and cut the deficit to one.

Pace went down in order in the top of the ninth as the Setters fell to the Panthers, 2-1. Senior Jonathan Chudy was solid other than the one mistake, tossing five innings while striking out five and allowing just those two runs. Senior Josh Grant entered in relief during the sixth and tossed three innings of shutout ball, adding three strikeouts.

At the dish, junior third baseman Nick LoBello went 2-4 while Gulino went 1-3 including the lone RBI for the Setters.

The Setters and the Panthers continue their weekend series with a doubleheader on Saturday with first pitch coming at noon.