FIU Baseball Drops First Game Of Season To BCU In Daytona

The Panthers tried to make it 4-0 on the season up north in Daytona.

But after falling to an early deficit once again, FIU could not match the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats’ double-digit runs as they fell by a score of 10-4, suffering their first loss of the season.

Richie Peña, who was supposed to make his 2024 debut on Sunday, had his start pushed back to today where he went three innings and struck out three batters but walked three and gave up three runs off of three hits.

Peña’s three runs were given up in the top of the second inning, specifically. After walking two hitters, Peña induced a fly out and back-to-back RBIs drove in both runners and then a sac fly nailed the last.

In the top of the fifth, the Panthers scored two runs and looked to get back in this thing. The inning began with an Adrian Figueroa base hit which was followed by a Roylan Quevedo fielders choice. But Brylan West, the Panthers’ hottest hitter to begin the season, drove in Quevedo on an RBI triple.

Senior Ryne Guida drove in West on an RBI single to make it a 5-2 game.

Bethune-Cookman would go on to score seven runs off of the FIU bullpen. Despite Alex Ulloa driving in a couple more runs for the Panthers in this one late in the game, it was not enough as they gave up 10 runs.

FIU will now take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in a four-game set that will be played in three days. The ESPN+ broadcast will be available on Friday and Sunday.