Frustrations Mount for Panthers After Loss to FGCU

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MIAMI, FL – After being down multiple times, the Panthers came back to tie the game, sending it to extras. In the 10th, FIU surrendered five runs to FGCU and was unable to recover.

With conference play on the horizon for this team, they are currently in a rough spot, with a six-game losing streak. Frustrations mount all around for the Panthers after their 11-6 loss to the FGCU Eagles.

Panthers Rally Back Twice

Jarek Woodwark got the call to make his fourth start of the season, and the Eagles got the best of him, scoring five runs in the first three innings.

Having to work his way through some batters, Woodwark only lasted 2.1 innings, allowing seven hits and a walk across 15 batters faced.

Scoreless through four, the Panthers were able to string together base runners. After Samuel Fischer drew a walk and Aidan Cohall doubled, FIU was set up in prime position to score runs. Proving to be their most productive power hitter thus far, Mario Trivella drove them in with a double.

Bot 5th
FGCU 5 | FIU 2

Mario Trivella knocks in the first two runs of the game for FIU#FIU | #Panthers | #PawsUp https://t.co/S9TJlf1oTf

— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) March 11, 2026

Down by three runs, Luca Reyes drove in another run in the frame through an RBI groundout.

In the sixth, Fischer and Trivella both reached base on walks and then scored on Cole Cleveland’s two-out RBI double, tying the game at five.

Bot 6th
FGCU 5 | FIU 5

Cole Cleveland ties the game at five apiece#FIU | #Panthers | #PawsUp https://t.co/m2iH159np3

— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) March 11, 2026

The game would remain tied until the eighth, when the Eagles scored what at the time was the go-ahead run on a double.

At the bottom of the ninth, down by a run, FIU would have to do what they’ve been used to in several of their wins all season. Win on a walk-off. Boston Doeschot reached base on a walk, and then Adonys Velez pinch ran for him, advancing to third on a pitcher’s error.

Andrew Ildefonso saw his pitch, swung at it, and the ball traveled quite a distance. It seemed as if it were going out of the park, but the left fielder was able to make the catch at the warning track. What was almost a walk-off homer turned into a sac fly, scoring Velez, and tying the game at six.

ILDY TIES US UP IN THE NINTH ‼️ pic.twitter.com/UeOuV5K601

— FIU Baseball (@FIUBaseball) March 11, 2026

Eagles Pull Away in the 10th

It didn’t take long for the Eagles to make the 10th inning a disaster for the Panthers. Whether it was hitting the ball, getting walked, or being hit by a pitch, FGCU found ways to get on base. It resulted in them scoring five runs unanswered and FIU going through three pitches to get through the 10th.

Again, FIU didn’t have an eternally bad game behind the dish per se, but they were quite outperformed by a lack of enough production.

They combined for 10 hits as a team. Cleveland had his first three-hit game of the season, and Trivella had a pair of hits. Fischer drew three walks in the contest.

All game long, it seemed no matter who was up, there was a pattern at the plate. The leadoff hitter would get on base with a hit, but then, with runners on base, FIU failed to get anything out of the opportunity. In the game, FIU’s leadoff hitters hit .800. With runners on, they hit .167, and with runners in scoring position, .091.

However, any of FIU’s successes meant nothing when FGCU went on to get 21 hits in the game. The difference for Florida Gulf Coast is that after their leadoff hitters reached base, they were able to capitalize at a higher frequency with runners on base.

One swing is all he needs 💁‍♂️

Javier Gorostola extends his program-record hitting streak to 35 games 😮‍💨

📺 ESPN+#WingsUp pic.twitter.com/5HugFBsVNz

— FGCU Baseball ⚾️ (@FGCU_Baseball) March 11, 2026

Their leadoff hitters went .600 at the dish while they hit .344 with runners on and .238 with runners in scoring position. A killer for the Panthers’ pitching, the two-out hitting (.333) for FGCU was effective as well.

Both teams pretty much canceled each other out with runners left on base. In a game that saw 35 runners left on the basepaths, the Eagles had slightly more with 18, while the Panthers had 17 stranded.

Growing Frustrations on Defense

When things couldn’t get any lower or more frustrating, FIU is in an early-season slump. They have lost 10 of their last 11 games. With a 7-11 in non-conference play, the Panthers are dead last in the overall Conference USA standings.

Another pattern that the Panthers have found themselves in is utilizing their bullpen to the max. In this game, they used a total of eight pitchers. Enrique Sierra had his third straight scoreless outing, tossing 1.2 innings and striking out two. Tyrus Riley had two scoreless innings, extending his streak of not allowing a run to six games.

Jordan Vargas and Mason Koczawa both made appearances, while Bryce Turner earned the loss after he allowed three runs in extras. Clayton Sherwood and Brennan Confreda capped off the night.

Pitching hasn’t been easy for them. The Panthers have the highest ERA (7.59), most innings pitched (160.0), hits allowed (185), runs (155), earned runs (135), bases on balls (111), at bats against (649), wild pitches (24), and balks (6) in the league.

It’s no secret that the mound has been the weakest spot for FIU. They are tied with New Mexico State with just one save, the lowest in CUSA. Their opponents’ batting average is .285, which is second.

Fielding has been tricky for this team so far. They lead Conference USA in chances (658) and putouts (480), but they also have committed the most errors with 26.

Trey with the CANNON in right 💪

T7 | FGCU 5, FIU 5 pic.twitter.com/9bYaRBQNxF

— FIU Baseball (@FIUBaseball) March 11, 2026

Another daunting statistic for them is with their catchers. They have only caught two runners stealing in 49 attempts. The .961 stolen base attempt rate for their opponents has been a big liability in their defense.

At the Dish

The Panthers are hanging in there with their bats. They rank amongst the top five in CUSA in doubles (34), triples (4), home runs (22), RBI (114), total bases (261), ground out double plays (7), as well as sac flys (9).

FIU owns the second-lowest batting average in Conference USA at .249. Only Sam Houston has a lower average. The Panthers have the second-most strikeouts in the conference with 171, falling short of Sam Houston once again.

Amongst the positives for FIU at the dish, they lead the league with 46 hit by pitches and are second in walks with 91. Only Dallas Baptist has more. They have the most at-bats by far, with 614.

On the basepaths, FIU could use more aggression, but they have done a good job at not getting picked off too much. With 14 attempts, their 12 stolen bases are tied for last, though.

On Deck

FIU will play its first CUSA series of the season at Western Kentucky from March 13-15.

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