FORT MYERS, Fla. – Defiance College scored in each of the final three innings on Thursday to nearly overcome an early 8-3 deficit against Lakeland. The comeback fell one run short however, as the Muskies held on for the 8-7 victory over DC.

A pair of big innings for Lakeland (5-1) proved to be the difference, as the Muskies struck for four in the second and three more in the bottom of the fifth to open up the 8-3 advantage.

The Jackets narrowed the gap to 8-5 in the seventh, after Bryn Lehman and Andy Habecker started the rally with a single and a double. The duo would later score on a fielder's choice and a Brent Kremer single.

Jonathan Murphy then doubled down the right-field line to open the eighth inning and later scored on a single from Darin Waterman to draw within two runs, before Brad Kremer tripled in the ninth and came home on a single off the bat of Brent Kremer.

Defiance could not draw even however, as the game ended with the potential tying run on first base. The stranded runner would be the 11th of the afternoon for the Jackets, after working six walks and 12 hits in the 8-7 defeat.

The middle of the order did most of the damage for DC, as Lehman, Waterman, Habecker, Brad Kremer and Brent Kremer combined for 10 of the team's 12 hits and scored six-of-seven runs.

Brett Belew turned in another strong showing on the mound for the Yellow Jackets, holding Lakeland scoreless over the final four innings to allow DC to narrow the gap. Belew allowed only one hit and recorded three strikeouts.

Defiance (4-5) will close its stay in Fort Myers on Friday with a pair of games against Principia (5-2) starting at 9:00 am.