MIAMI – Zach Files hit a walk-off, two-run home run Wednesday afternoon to lift homestanding FIU past Bethune-Cookman, 4-3 at FIU Baseball Stadium.
Two weeks after a decisive 21-8 decision in favor of FIU at Jackie Robinson Ballpark, Wednesday's game would be the exact opposite, providing late drama that appeared in both games of the mid-week series between the two sides a season ago.
Bethune-Cookman (14-20) sent ace closer senior right-hander Clint Clymer to the hill in the bottom of the ninth, holding a 3-2 advantage.
After FIU left fielder Nick Day singled to open the bottom of the ninth, first baseman Zach Files drove a 1-1 pitch deep to right field for his third home run of the campaign. Thus, giving FIU (16-19) a walk-off 4-3 victory in the process.
Bethune-Cookman opened the game's scoring in the top of the opening frame. It was the fifth time in the last eight games the Wildcats have scored in the first inning.
Senior left fielder Rakeem Quinn walked and sophomore second baseman Jameel Edney singled, putting two men on to start. The pair moved up 90 feet with a wild pitch from FIU starter Andres Nunez. Two plays later, MEAC Rookie of the Week Danny Rodriguez plated the game's first run in the form of Quinn with a groundout to second base.
The Wildcats extended the lead in the top of the sixth.
Three consecutive singles to open the frame saw catcher Clay Middleton deliver a run-scoring single through the left side, pushing across Michael Cruz for the 2-0 advantage. After Nathan Bond's single loaded the bases, redshirt sophomore third baseman Brandon Wilkes drove in Rodriguez with a RBI single, extending the B-CU lead at 3-0.
FIU answered in the bottom of the inning.
Redshirt senior right-hander Juan Pizarro relieved sophomore Joseph Calamita for the Maroon and Gold in the FIU at-bat.
Leadoff hitter and third baseman Eddie Silva doubled down the line in left, allowing designated hitter Jack Schaaf to score from second after he was hit by a pitch in his at-bat two plays earlier. That cut into the B-CU lead, 3-1.
The Panthers setup the eventual late drama with another run in the home-half of the eighth as Zach Olszewski relieved German Hernandez on the bump.
Schaaf punched a run-scoring single through the right side, pushing across center fielder Kolby Follis who got into scoring position with a single and a wild pitch from the hard-throwing Olszewski.
That brought the score to 3-2 in favor of the visitors from Daytona Beach.
The win was picked up by FIU's Williams Durruthy, improving his record to 1-3 on the year. Meanwhile, Clymer took the loss to fall to 1-3 himself.
B-CU starter Donté Lindsay went just two innings, scattering five hits and allowing zero (0) runs and walking one with two strikeouts.
The B-CU offense was paced by Quinn with a 3-for-4 performance, adding a run scored. Rodriguez added three hits in five appearances, scoring once and driving in a run.
Bethune-Cookman returns to Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference play this weekend, welcoming Florida A&M for a three-game series at the Ormond Beach Sports Complex in Ormond Beach, Florida. The series begins with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 16, at 1 p.m.
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