FIU got some timely hitting, nifty work from its bullpen and the help of wild UAB pitching to fuel a comeback to defeat the Blazers, 12-6, Saturday night at the FIU ballpark.

The Panthers (15-11, 4-4 Conference USA) rallied from an early 5-0 deficit to even the three-game series with UAB (15-12, 4-4). The teams play the series-deciding game Sunday at 12 p.m. – an hour earlier than the regular Sunday game time.

Brewer Hicklen's three-run home run off FIU starter Chris Mourelle staked UAB to a 5-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Mourelle, who had been 4-0 with a 0.68 ERA against UAB in his career, lasted two innings and allowed five runs.

However, in the bottom of the second the Panthers tied the score on just two hits. FIU got plenty of help from Blazers starter Ryan Ruggles.

After Ruggles got Kenny Meimerstorf to fly out to start the second, the left-hander hit two batters, walked two batters and gave up a single to JC Escarra. Ruggles hit Kobe Lopez with the bases loaded to force in the first FIU run and then walked Jack Schaaf with the bases loaded to make it 5-2.

Irving Lopez's two-run single cut the UAB lead to 5-4. With one out in the second, Irving Lopez broke for second base; Schaaf stole home on the play to tie the score.

Two innings later the Panthers broke the tie and added to their lead again with help from UAB pitching.

In the fourth, Schaaf led off with a double down the right field line off UAB reliever Austin Thomas (0-1). Two outs later, Schaaf scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch by Thomas to give FIU a 6-5 lead.

In the fifth, Meimerstorf started the inning with a single to center. Zach Files was hit by a pitch and Thomas walked Kobe Lopez to load the bases. Sylvester Toe replaced Thomas and uncorked a wild pitch to score Meimerstorf.

UAB pitchers walked seven FIU batters, threw six wild pitches and hit five batters.

FIU's bats salted the game away in the sixth and seventh innings.

In the sixth, Irving Lopez tripled and Zack Soria brought him home with a single to center. Nick Day and JC Escarra hit back-to-back doubles to make it 10-5 FIU.

Schaaf hit a solo home run in the seventh and Meimerstorf had an RBI single.

The FIU bullpen did a terrific job allowing one earned run over seven innings of work. Michael Agis pitched two scoreless innings. Alex Demchak (2-0) allowed a run over 2 1/3 innings and Dominic LoBrutto got the save with 2 2/3 innings of shutout relief.

LoBrutto ended any thought of a UAB comeback when he induced Price Visintainer to ground into a 4-6-3 double play with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh. Visintainer at the time represented the tying run.

Escarra was 3 for 5 with an RBI. Schaaf was 2 for 3 with two RBI, including his second home run of the season. Meimerstorf and Irving Lopez each had two hits.

Nick MacDonald will get the ball for FIU Sunday afternoon. Garrett Whitlock goes for UAB in the rubber game of the series. The game can be seen on PantherVision and C-USA TV.