DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A five-run sixth inning for FIU was the difference as the Wildcats were setback by the Panthers, 9-4, Tuesday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark
How It Happened
FIU (5-0, 0-0 C-USA) struck first on the night with a run in the top of the first inning, but it did not take long for The Wildcats (1-3, 0-0 SWAC) to return the favor.
Gaylen Rutledge sent a ball over the left field fence on the second pitch he saw to tie the game at 1-1 – the first Wildcats homer of the season.
That was not all for B-CU in the inning. A walk, single, and hit-by-pitch loaded the bases before
Matthew Garcia sent a ball deep into right center for a bases-clearing triple to put B-CU ahead 4-1.
FIU clawed its way back into the game with a run in the third and two runs in the fourth. The Panthers broke things open with a five-run sixth inning to go ahead, 9-5.
Hector Vazquez took the loss the B-CU, allowing six earned runs on eight hits with no walks and five strikeouts.
Bryan Peña,
Gabriel Perez, and
Marcos Gamboa combined for 3.1 innings of scoreless relieve, allowing only two hits and a walk.
Matthew Garcia finished with two hits, a double and the RBI triple.
Notes
- The Wildcats had more walks (11) than strikeouts (7) in the game.
- Christopher Patterson walked twice and stole two bases
- Brian Perez reached base in all four plate appearances – three walks and a single.
- B-CU left ten men on base in the game.
Up Next
The Wildcats welcome in Florida Gulf Coast for a three-game series this weekend. Game one gets underway Friday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m.
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