FIU Walks-Off The Miami Hurricanes, Take Series Lead

MIAMI, FL – In FIU head coach Rich Witten’s first season at the helm, he was walked off by the University of Miami, but three years later, he returned the favor in a 5-4 win, snapping a five-game losing streak.

Wednesday’s win marks the first time since 2018 that the Panthers have defeated the Hurricanes at FIU Baseball Stadium and the first time since 2017 that they have taken back-to-back games against their crosstown rivals. They will meet up for the final time in Coral Gables on Wednesday, May 7.

Back to back wins and a WALKOFF over that team from Coral Gables 😼#PawsUp pic.twitter.com/AzeSwSObbI

— FIU Athletics (@FIUAthletics) April 24, 2025

“It’s a great win,” said FIU head coach Rich Witten. “It was no secret the players were feeling the fact that we’ve been struggling over the last couple games. When you got your back against the wall, playing a really good UM team on your second mid-week game of the week, thin on pitching, you’ve been traveling a lot and for them to come out and play as hard as they did, guys picked each other up all game long, that was really the story of the game.”

Throughout the five-game losing streak, FIU pitching allowed a total of 54 runs, with four of the five games, opponents scoring double-digit runs. On Wednesday, FIU allowed three runs on six hits (one home run).

Redshirt junior Jarek Woodward took the mound for FIU to kick off the mid-week matchup and gave the Panthers two innings of work, shutting out the Canes offense and striking out two.

It was sophomore Tristan Dietrich who “you can argue won us that game,” per Witten. He gave FIU a career-high three innings, not allowing a single hit, walking one and striking out two.

Have at it, @TristanDeetz27 👏

3️⃣ IP (career-high) | 0️⃣ H | | 0️⃣ ER | 2️⃣ K pic.twitter.com/EtU7ItdCWv

— FIU Baseball (@FIUBaseball) April 24, 2025

Similar to their win in Coral Gables, the FIU offense got to Hurricanes’ starter Reese Lumpkin right away in the bottom of the third inning.

Third baseman Javier Crespo knocked in the first run of the game on an RBI single, driving in lead-off hitter Brylan West. Designated hitter Andrew Ildefonso followed it up with an RBI single to left field, driving in Crespo and Kishon Frett, giving FIU a 3-0 lead, one they would hold until the top of the fifth inning.

FIU retook the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning thanks to freshman Cole Cleveland, who hit his first career triple, driving in the fourth run of the game. In the top of the ninth, Hurricanes catcher Evan Taveras hit a solo homer to left field, tying the game at four apiece, which meant free baseball when FIU was unable to walk it off in the bottom of the ninth.

Cleveland rocks harder than your favorite playlist 🎸#PawsUp | @ColeCleveland20 pic.twitter.com/n9UXSAOI89

— FIU Baseball (@FIUBaseball) April 24, 2025

The Panthers turned to freshman Bryce Turner, who worked a quick 1-2-3 top of the tenth, giving FIU an opportunity to walk it off once again in front of their home crowd.

Andrew Ildefonso was hit by a pitch to begin the inning, and second baseman Alex Ulloa reached first on a fielder’s choice; Ildefonso was safe at second. Catcher Brendan Roney bunted both Ulloa and Ildefonso over. When Hector Candelas came in to pinch hit for Kareh Valentin, he was intentionally walked for Cole Cleveland, who popped out to second base.

Brylan West, who had a two-hit going for himself, having never walked it off at FIU, laced a base hit down the third base line, driving in pinch runner Ryan Hunter and giving the Panthers the big win over the Hurricanes.

“I know I’ve had some opportunities before, but it’s baseball, so you’re gonna get those same opportunities over and over again,” said West, who finished the night going three-for-five with an RBI.

With the win, FIU snaps its five-game losing streak and moves to 23-18 on the season. They will stay home and face off against the ranked Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, whom they took two out of three last season in Bowling Green. The Hurricanes drop to 24-18 and will hit to road to face off against Boston College.

About Post Author

Kevin Barral

Hello, my name is Kevin Barral. I am currently covering FIU Football for Lemon City, but have been covering Miami Marlins baseball since the 2021 season with Fish Stripes and that has been my main forte so far in my young sports media career. I am excited to cover FIU Football this season and moving forward. I love to travel, play sports, and go out with my friends to Flanigans when not covering or writing.

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