Knox Gives FIU Baseball Four Strong Innings, Split Series Against Pirates

MIAMI, FL – Monday night baseball to finish off a series is certainly unexpected, but no matter what, the Panthers still came in and ended the series with a 4-3 win to split the series against the Seton Hall Pirates.

In his first collegiate start of the game, Cameron Knox took on Notre Dame and went 3.1 innings, didn’t allow a hit, but gave up two runs. Nonetheless, Knox kept FIU in it despite the eventual loss.

On Monday, Knox went four innings, gave up one run off of two hits, struck out one, and didn’t walk anyone. Knox isn’t much of a strikeout-dominant pitcher and worked with contact, where the defense behind him came into play well and kept FIU in it.

“He’s versatile,” said head coach Rich Witten postgame. “Cam is very versatile. I trust him in the middle part of the game. I trust him at the back of the game. He’s been great to start and roll to so he’s going to be a little bit of a Swiss army knife for us.”

Knox’s swing-and-miss action put hitters in an uncomfortable situation at times as well, which stood out, but no strikeout-dominant pitcher. The Panthers have been using Knox as a long man to start games. Thus far, he has done well in both of his outings.

The Panthers’ offense responded quickly after Knox gave up a first-inning home run to Danny Melnick. After Brylan West was hit by a pitch, Armando Becerra smacked a base hit to move West to third, and DH Ryne Guida drove him in on a sacrifice fly to put this game at one apiece.

The second run of the inning came in after Becerra moved up to second on a passed ball, Kishon Frett got himself on the board with a base hit and after Jeff Liquori struck out, Alex Ulloa was hit by a pitch and it all ended in a bases-loaded walk by Chase Engelhard to give FIU the second run of the game.

“Yeah, it’s another opportunity,” said Ulloa after the game when asked about batting in the middle of the rotation. “I look at it like that. Wherever I hit, I’m just gonna play my game and I don’t care where I’m at where I’m playing.”

In the bottom of the third inning, the Panthers knocked in their third run of the game thanks to an Alex Ulloa RBI single which drove in Kishon Frett who had himself his second base hit of the day.

In the top of the fifth inning, Cam Knox was removed from the game and Jackson Ritchey entered the game. That was Ritchey’s first appearance since being removed as the Friday starter.

Ritchey gave the Panthers one inning of work but gave up a home run to Joey Calabretti to make it what was a 3-2 ballgame.

In the fifth inning, Kishon Frett got on base for the third time in the game and a failed pickoff attempt moved Frett up to third. Jeff Liquori drove him in on a sac fly to make it a 4-2 ballgame.

The Panthers bullpen had its ups and downs, but David Eckaus gave FIU 2.2 innings of work, gave up one run off of home hit, didn’t walk anyone, and struck out four. By far his best outing as an FIU Panther.

Between four pitchers, the Panthers only gave up two walks, the least total amount given out this season from FIU. Certainly an improvement from what has happened this season.

With the win, FIU’s record improves to 7-5, and they’ll look to defend their ballpark and get a bit of revenge at the same time as they host the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats tomorrow at 6pm.