The Blue squad received a combined seven shutout innings from Dominic LoBrutto and Nick MacDonald and timely early hitting to blank the Gold squad 3-0 in Game 1 of the FIU Blue & Gold Fall World Series at the FIU ballpark. The Blue leads the best-of-five series, 1-0.

LoBrutto, who made his first start in an FIU uniform, pitched five scoreless frames, allowed four hits and struck out three to pick up the win. MacDonald pitched the final two innings, allowed two hits, a walk and struck out four batters. MacDonald, a freshman from Pembroke Pines Flanagan, struck out the side in the top of the seventh to record the save.

The Blue wasted no time offensively. Irving Lopez led off the bottom of the first inning with a walk and was quickly driven in on a two-run home run to left by freshman Javier Valdes off Gold starter Michael Agis.

Valdes hit a one-out double down the left field line in the third. The next batter, J.C. Escarra hit an RBI single off Agis just inside the right field line to score Valdes and make it 3-0.

Agis took the loss after pitching 5 1/3 innings, allowing four hits, three runs, a walk and struck out five. Robert Garcia finished on the mound for the Gold, pitching 2/3 of a scoreless inning and allowing a walk.

Valdes led the Blue going 2 for 3. Escarra was 1 for 3. The only other hit for the Blue was a single by freshman Christian Coipel.

The Gold outhit the Blue 6-4 led by Kenny Meimerstorf, who was 2 for 3.

Game 2 of the series is Tuesday at 4 p.m.