FIU Baseball Clinches Game One Win in Conference USA Tournament

For the first time since 2018, the FIU Panthers have played postseason baseball.

FIU had the day’s first game at 10am against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. After trailing through most of the game, the Panthers’ bottom-of-the-lineup produced just enough to set up the top of the order to take the lead and take game one of the tournament.

“You certainly want to stay in a winner’s bracket for as long as possible,” said head coach Rich Witten postgame. “So you gotta pull every punch that you have to keep yourself in the winner’s bracket and that starts with game number one today.”

Kishon Frett, who performed well in conference play this season, kept it up in the conference tournament with a 3-4 day that includes two home runs and a base hit.

“The biggest thing today was showing the ability to bounce back,” said Witten. “Got punched in the gut a little bit early with the two-spot and to fall behind, but to respond immediately with a big swing was huge for the morale of the team and it was great to see Kishon do that, but you can see and feel the team respond with a big swing and I think that set the tone for the rest of the game.”

In the top of the fourth inning, the Panthers trailed 2-0. On a 1-0 count, Frett took Western Kentucky starter Jacob Bimbi deep for a two-run homer to tie the game at two apiece.

Trailing 4-2, Frett went deep in the top of the seventh inning, taking advantage of the middle-middle 3-1 count pitch to put the Panthers within one.

“I felt great,” said Frett following the game. “I finally feel like I am in a rhythm and it’s felt good to have a few days off and get my swing back right with coach Jeroloman. Felt good at the plate.”

In that same top of the seventh, down one, nine hitter Andre Martinez knocked in his third base hit of the game and it set up Brylan West with the tying run on first and lead at the plate.

On an 0-1 count, West took WKU pitcher Lucas Litteral deep for a two-run shot to give FIU their first lead of the game. That was West’s 11th home run of the season. West was also recently announced as one of three Panthers to make the all-conference second team.

Martinez ended up having a three-for-three day, but for Witten, playing Martinez wasn’t necessarily for the bat, but for the defense. Despite being there for one reason, he proved that he can also be a jolt of energy at the bottom of the lineup.

“Andre was a spark plug for us today. No doubt about it,” said Witten. “I’ll be the first to admit, he’s in there for his defense. Western is going to pressure you on the offensive side of the ball. They’re going to use the short game and they’re going to create a lot of traffic on the bases and he’s a great defender, so we went with Andre a third today, but he’s scrappy at the plate as well and he had fantastic at-bats and a huge key to go 3-3 with a walk on top of it.”

FIU manager Rich Witten gave the nod to crafty right-handed pitcher Logan Runde who went over three innings and gave up two runs off of seven hits and one walk. He also struck out three.

“He’s proven that he can pitch in a versatile role,” said Witten. “He can pitch out of the pen and he can start the game. He’s been someone that we relied on.”

The first run of the game was scored on a wild pitch and then in that same bottom of the third, with a runner on third base, the Panthers caught the runner on first stealing but gave enough time for the runner from third to score and give the Hilltoppers an early 2-0 lead.

A bullpen comprised of Zac Lampton and Cameron Knox allowed two runs off of five hits. The bullpen relied heavily on contact as they didn’t strike out a single opposing hitter.

The Panthers ended up extending the lead, hitting their third home run. This time, it came from center fielder Armando Becerra who hit a two-run shot off of Drew Whalen. That was Becerra’s seventh home run of the season which gave them a 7-4 lead.

When the Panthers made the tournament in 2018, they lost both games eliminating them from the tournament.

This time around, the Panthers cement themselves into the winner’s bracket and will take on the winner of the Dallas Baptist vs. New Mexico State Game. The Panthers swept the Aggies this season while the Patriots swept the Panthers.