Both goals came in the first half with a superb effort from Simon Whaley on 33 minutes putting Preston ahead and an own goal from Youl Mawene 10 minutes later bringing Hull back on level terms.
City's Damien Delaney had a chance midway through the first half but his header from an Alan Rogers corner went wide of Carlo Nash's right hand post from eight yards out.
The Tigers rued that miss just past the half-hour men when Whaley capitalised on Delaney stalling on the edge of the box and smashed in a half-volley to send North End into the lead.
Some smart football from Hull just before the break resulted in a great chance for Jon Parkin but he couldn't convert a cross from Craig Fagan, as he hit the ball into the ground and saw it bounce over the bar.
Hull did level the scores on 43 minutes when a Stuart Green free-kick from the right side of the box was unintentionally bundled into the bottom right corner of the net by Preston skipper Mawene.
Preston had most of the play early in the second half and should have gone ahead when Danny Dichio was gifted a chance inside the area, but he couldn't find a finish and played the ball firmly into the hands of Boaz Myhill.
Hull started to come into the game midway through the second period and nearly took the lead through Parkin, but he couldn't find enough power on his shot and Nash comfortably saved his right footed effort.
Substitute Darryl Duffy came within inches of putting Hull ahead towards the end of the game but he lashed a right-footed shot just wide of the post.
Whaley then nearly grabbed his second late on as he raced into the box and unleashed a right-footed shot, but Myhill was equal to it and managed to turn the ball around the post.