Miami Defeats FIU In Inaugural Baseball Game At loanDepot Park

MIAMI, FL – For the first time since 2019, the FIU Panthers and Miami Hurricanes met at loanDepot park – home of the Miami Marlins – but this time for a baseball game. 

After the Panthers tied the game at three apiece in the fifth, sophomore superstar Daniel Cuvet made FIU pay as they fell by a final score of 7-3.

Major League Offenses

After trailing 3-0, FIU began to dig themselves out of a hole thanks to the bottom of their lineup. Third baseman Javier Crespo got the Panthers’ first hit of the game: a ground-rule double. Catcher Brendan Roney followed Crespo with a base hit, and nine-hitter Kareh Valentin drove in Crespo on an RBI double. Lead-off hitter Brylan West then hit a sac fly to drive in Roney and make it a 3-2 game.

In the bottom of the fifth, left fielder Austin Dearing smacked an RBI single to drive in Crespo. Dearing’s RBI left the bat at 102 miles per hour, which marked the hardest hit ball of the night for a Panther.

The Hurricanes, who seemed dominant offensively from the start, were slowed down by reliever David Eckaus. Eckaus, who appeared in all four games against Miami last season, pitched three scoreless innings and struck out four.

FIU head coach Rich Witten decided to go with redshirt freshman Tracen Cameron in the top of the sixth inning. After generating an early ground out to second base, Cameron got into some trouble, allowing a base hit. It all came downhill after Miami’s right fielder Fabio Peralta worked a walk and Michael Torres reached on due to a fielder’s choice.

It All Goes Wrong

Daniel Cuvet, who set the Miami Hurricanes record for most home runs for a freshman (24), went up to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. Cameron worked Cuvet to a full count, but on the eighth pitch of the at-bat, Cameron threw a curveball up. Cuvet was able to take it deep to left field for his first grand slam of the season, putting the nail in the coffin on the game.

Cuvet had the hardest hit ball of the night at 111.7 mph and the longest hit ball at 368 feet. That was the sophomore’s second home run of the season.

FIU had an opportunity in the bottom of the seventh inning with runners on first and second and two outs. Unfortunately for them, Brylan West flew out on the first pitch of the at-bat.

The Panthers will head back to Miami for a three-game weekend series against the Florida Atlantic Owls. Game one is set for Friday, March 7th at 6:30pm. Game two will take place on Saturday in Boca Raton, with the series finale returning to the 305 on Sunday.