FIU Baseball Comeback Falls Short, Drop First Conference USA Series

Despite the Panthers falling to the Jacksonville Gamecocks, 2-0, FIU starter Joel Pineiro struck out a career-high eight hitters. Unfortunately, a two-run homer in the bottom of the second inning would be the deciding factor.

Pineiro’s secondary pitches worked well as he generated enough swing and miss, but that secondary stuff ended up being his only mistake of the day, giving up a two-run homer to Logan Walters, who ended up homering again in the bottom of the sixth, but off of Orlando Hernandez. Jax State took a 3-0 lead.

The top of the seventh ended up being the Panthers’ lucky inning, tying the game thanks to a Hector Candelas and Bryaln West RBI single. A wild pitch would score Hector Candelas who was on third.

Locked in 3-3, the Panthers were walked off in the bottom of the 11th inning on a Hudson Walburn RBI single.

With the loss, the Panthers drop to 15-15, right at .500 and 6-5 in Conference USA. FIU also dropped their first Conference USA series of the season.

Up next, the Panthers will head back to FGCU to take on the Eagles and the next day, they head back to FIU Baseball Stadium to take on the Eagles. The Panthers will have a bye-week in conference play and then head to take on the New Mexico State Aggies.