MIAMI, FL – After an interesting series split against Bucknell, the FIU Panthers began conference play at home for a second straight season – this time against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks.
A big-time game one win was followed by a blowout loss in the middle game of the series. In the rubber match, the bats came alive. For a second straight year, the Panthers won their first conference series of the season.
Game One
Taking the mound was righty Easton Marks who went five innings, surrendering three runs off five hits, walking two, and striking out seven. After reliever Jaydon Bishop gave the Panthers a zero in the sixth inning, head coach Rich Witten went to Juan Villarreal to close the game. He provided three shutout innings, allowing one hit, walking three, and striking out five.
For the first time this season, the Panthers had a new lead-off hitter when Brylan West was in the lineup: Alex Ulloa.
Ulloa, a senior went 2-5 with two RBI and scored a run. Designated hitter Andrew Ildefonso went 1-2 with two RBIs and third baseman Javier Crespo also drove in a run. After trailing 3-0, FIU got to Gamecocks starter Jackson Phipps. His velocity decreased towards the end of his start, taking him on for three runs.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, FIU took a 4-3 lead and in the inning that followed, the Panthers put the finishing touches, knocking in two more runs to win by a final score of 6-3.
Game Two
Logan Runde, who had struggled in his last three starts once again came out on the wrong side. In 2.2 innings, he allowed seven runs off nine hits and one walk. He was unable to record a strikeout.
Thankfully, reliever Tracen Cameron gave FIU three strong innings, only allowing one run off of two hits. The rest of the bullpen surrendered four runs.
The defense behind the pitchers didn’t do much favors, committing a season-high seven errors.
Offensively, FIU had six hits, with Alex Ulloa having a multi-hit game. He also hit his third home run of the season.
The Panthers fell by a final score of 12-3 and looked to defeat the Gamecocks in a rubber match.
Game Three
With a TBD for game three, FIU went with senior David Eckaus who went three innings, allowing one run off of four hits, walking one, and striking out one. Kevin Martin is making his first appearance since allowing the grand slam to Bucknell. He turned in two innings of work, allowing two runs off six hits.
A name that has gone under the radar is redshirt junior Jarek Woodward, the Seattle transfer. He went four innings of work, allowing one run off two hits, walking two, striking out three, and earning the save.
In nine innings of work this season, Woodward has posted a 2.00 ERA, striking out 23 and racking up two saves as well. Similar to Villarreal, he’s been a swingman for this FIU team.
Kishon Frett, who had struggled these past two weeks punched in his first multi-homer game of the season. He’s now up to eight home runs of the season, which is first on the team.
FIU’s 12-hit afternoon led them to scoring 11 runs and defeating Jacksonville State by a final score of 11-4.
What’s Next?
FIU will now embark on a nine-game road trip, beginning with a trip up I-95 to take on the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats in a midweek matchup before going to Murfreesboro to take on the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders.
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