DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Wildcats will look to build on their momentum from a season-opening series win as they host the Panthers of FIU, Tuesday night at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.



Tuesday, February 20
Opponent: FIU
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Daytona Beach, Fla. | Jackie Robinson Ballpark
Live Stats: https://bcuathletics.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/cateyenetwork



A back-and-forth contest on a rainy day in Daytona saw the Wildcats load the bases with no one out down a single run in the ninth, but nothing came across as they fell, 8-7, Saturday afternoon.

It was Stonehill that got on the board first, posting a pair of runs in the first off Wildcat starter Daniel Gaviria. A single, double, and Jack Thorbahn single plated the first run of the contest, scoring Trey Ciulla-Hall and Sam Parks to make it 2-0 in a hurry. 

The Wildcats  were quick to answer a half-inning later, plating three unearned runs on a Skyhawk throwing error that allowed Jose Gonzalez and Garrett Chun to score before Manny Souffrain doubled home Jorge Rodriguez to give B-CU a 3-2 lead. 

After help from a dropped popup, B-CU tacked on two more in the bottom of the second on a Chun triple, scoring Daniel Figueroa and Jayme Villafane to made it 5-2. 

As the light rain subsided, the two teams worked a scoreless fourth before Stonehill posted two more in the fifth on a Parks single and Ciulla-Hall fielder's choice and Wildcat error that allowed the run to cross the plate. Yet another Wildcat error allowed Ciulla-Hall to score with two outs to put the Skyhawks in front again, 6-5. 

B-CU made quick work of that lead in the bottom of the fifth, as Sergio Rivera plated two on a single through the left side of the infield that put the Cats in front yet again. 

Stonehill grabbed runs in the seventh and eighth to head to the bottom of the ninth up, 8-7.

The Wildcats opened the ninth with a single, hit-by-pitch, and walk to load the bases with no one out. The Skyhawks made a pitching change with Rivera looming at the plate, but reliever Jordan Marot worked a three-pitch strikeout. The game came to an end as Colton Olasin grounded into a double play on the first pitch he saw, and Stonehill held on to steal the series finale. 

Daniel Gaviria made the start. He worked five innings, allowing six runs - three earned - on seven hits with one walk and one strikeout.

Yoansell Diaz suffered the loss. He allowed two runs on two hits with two walk and three strikeouts over 2.2 innings.

Colby Lipovsky and Jeffrey Gonzalez also appeared out of the pen for the Wildcats. 




FIU opened the 2024 season with a series sweep of LIU at home, including two lopsided scores of 20-7 and 19-4 in the latter two games of the series. The 45 total runs scored were also the most in a three-game series for FIU since 2020.

The panthers hit .420 as a team for the series, recording 42 hits and eight homers. Infielder Brylan West was named C-USA Hitter of the week after a 10-12 weekend at the plate with nine RBI, three doubles, and two homers. 

Infielder Alex Ulloa and outfielder Jeff Liquori also recorded a pair of homers each for the Panthers. 

On the mound, the Panthers struck out 23 to only 19 walks, allowing a 1.39 WHIP in the series. 

The Panthers program as a whole has struggled over the last few seasons, having not recorded a winning record since the COVID-shortened 2020 season, when they finished 10-5. 


The Wildcats will look to record their first win over the Panthers since 2017 after dropping ten straight vs. FIU. The Wildcats are 15-55 in the all-time series. Last season, B-CU plated four runs in the top of the ninth, but could not finish the deal in a 7-6 loss at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. 


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