Box Score MIAMI, Fla. (Feb. 21, 2014) – The FIU baseball team is off to a 6-0 start for the ninth time in program history, as the Panthers earned a 6-2 victory over Stony Brook on Friday night. Juniors Louis Silverio and Julius Gaines gave FIU its first two homeruns of the season in the victory.
 
Junior right-hander Mike Franco earned his first victory of the season, striking out nine batters over five innings, while allowing just four hits. Senior Tyler Hibbert, freshman JC Escarra and Silverio each collected two hits in the win. Hibbert stole two bases, giving him six on the season, besting his total of four from last year.
 
The Panthers have scored in the first inning all six games this year, as FIU jumped out to 1-0 lead. Hibbert started the game with an bunt single and stole second. Sophomore Edwin Rios roped his first double of the season to right centerfield, scoring Hibbert to give FIU its first run.
 
FIU added more in the third. The Panthers had two base runners on with two out. Gaines drove his first career home run over the left centerfield wall, to give the Panthers a 4-0 advantage. Gaines' home run was an 11-pitch at bat.
 
The Seawolves answered with two runs in the fourth on two hits. One of the runs was earned, while the other run scored on a throwing error on an attempted steal.
 
In the sixth inning, FIU's first two hitters got out. Escarra reached base on his second hit of the night, setting things up for Silverio. The junior slugged one over the 375 fence in left centerfield to up FIU's lead to 6-2.
 
FIU's bullpen was solid again, as senior Albert Cardenas and freshman Gunnar McNeill combined for four innings, allowing just two hits and stiking out four.
 
FIU will be back in action at 4 p.m. tomorrow for the FIU Baseball Stadium.
 
 
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Twitter (@FIUBaseball) and become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUBaseball) for all the latest FIU Baseball news. Follow all of FIU's 18 athletic teams on Twitter (@FIUAthletics), Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSports), YouTube (FIUPanthers), and Instagram (FIUathletics).
 
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Season tickets for the upcoming FIU baseball season are now on sale. Tickets for the 2014 campaign cost just $50 per ticket for all fans this year. Fans can purchase tickets online, over the phone by calling 305-FIU-GAME, or in person at the R. Kirk Landon Fieldhouse Box Office. Student admission is free to all FIU baseball home games.
 
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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including U.S. Century Bank Arena and Alfonso Field at FIU Stadium.
About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. Its colleges and schools offer more than 180 bachelor¹s, master¹s and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida¹s anchor institutions, FIU is Worlds Ahead in its local and global engagement, finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded 200,000 degrees and enrolls 50,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.