Panthers Improve Record To 7-0 With Second Win Over Delaware

MIAMI, FL – The FIU baseball team has begun the season on fire, taking the series over Delaware with a solid 7-4 Saturday win.

Don’t let the scoreboard confuse you, this game was close, arguably the closest contest FIU has had this season. The Panthers looked to their pitching to keep the Blue Hens at bay before closing the game with three combined home runs in the seventh and eighth innings to secure the win.

FIU got on the board first, taking a 2-0 lead in the second inning. A pair of sacrifice RBIs by Kareh Valentin and Kishon Frett drove home both Samuel Fischer and Brendan Roney.

On the mound, Easton Marks tied his career-high with nine strikeouts, allowing a single hit and no earned runs in a little over three innings. Jaydon Bishop was a solid replacement for two innings, recording five strikeouts and no hits for Delaware.

“We talked to the pitches a little last night,” said FIU baseball head coach Rich Witten postgame. “About their attitude right now, and how confident, aggressive they are. That’s a recipe that I want to continue to see grow. We know we have the arms to do that, and their mindsets continue to grow and mature and have that kind of competitiveness from the confidence when they go out on the mound, it’s going to lead to a lot of success.”

This lead wouldn’t last forever. The Blue Hens broke through with a game-tying home run. This was when FIU’s bats took off, however, with a solo homer by Frett in the bottom of the inning. This gave the Panthers’ back a lead.

If it was close then, what followed in the eighth inning made a comeback nearly impossible. It began with back-to-back home runs for both Andrew Ildefonso and Valentin. For added insurance, Cole Cleveland drove in a run to bump their lead to 7-2.

Delaware answered with a two-run homer in the top of the ninth, but couldn’t do enough damage when it mattered the most as FIU closed out the win.

With the win, FIU improves to a perfect 7-0 record. This is the best start for the program since 2020. The Panthers will aim for another series sweep on Sunday at noon at the FIU Baseball Stadium.