MIAMI, FL – It was another amazing performance for FIU Panthers starter Easton Marks, but once they turned to the bullpen, the Liberty Flames tacked on back-to-back home runs, enough to win by a final score of 4-2.
Marks, who made his 13th start of the season, gave FIU seven innings of work, allowing two runs on six hits, one walk, and coming one strikeout shy of his career-high in strikeouts (nine).
FIU got the board early, with outfielder Austin Dearing taking Flames starter Ben Blair deep for his fourth home run of the season, giving the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth inning, the Flames scored two runs, the only ones that Marks surrendered in his 104-pitch start.
First baseman Brylan West hit his 10th home run of the season, tying the game at two apiece. West is now one home run shy of his FIU career-high 11 home runs.
In the top of the eighth inning, FIU went with reliever Juan Villarreal, who, after inducing two quick outs, surrendered back-to-back home runs, giving the Flames a 4-2 lead.
The Panthers couldn’t get anything going in the eighth inning, but it was the ninth inning where everything turned. Javier Crespo led the inning off with a base hit to the right field line, Alex Ulloa worked a walk, and Brendan Roney moved both Crespo and Ulloa on a sac bunt. The Flames made a pitching change, and FIU went with a pinch hitter, Kyle Koehler.
Not What He Wanted To See
On a 2-2 count, Koehler struck out looking on a very questionable strike three call, which head coach Rich Witten made clear he was not happy about, standing up for his team and players.
FIU fell by a final score of 4-2. Following the game, Witten was issued a postgame ejection, meaning that he will be suspended for the middle game of the three-game set. Jarek Woodward will be the Panthers’ starting pitcher.
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