MIAMI (Feb. 27, 2015) -- FIU right-hander
Cody Crouse delivered a sterling outing against Manhattan pitching the Panthers to a 7-2 win Friday night in the opener of a four-game series with the Jaspers at the FIU ballpark. Crouse fired a one-hitter over seven innings to record his first victory of the season.
Crouse had a no-hitter going for six and two-thirds innings before Jason Patnick doubled down the left-field line for the Jaspers' lone hit of the night. Crouse allowed just two runs, walked two and struck out five batters. The last FIU no-hitter belongs to former Panther
Kyle Fitzpatrick, who no-hit Northeastern in a 4-0 win March 2, 2011.
Freshman
David Lee pitched two scoreless and hitless relief innings and struck out five batters to finish the FIU victory. FIU improved to 5-4 and Manhattan dropped to 0-5 on the season.
FIU opened the scoring in the bottom of the first inning.
Jack Schaaf walked, stole second base and came around to score on
Brian Portelli's RBI fielder's choice.
Portelli drove in his second run of the game with another fielder's choice in the third inning.
J.C. Escarra plated the third FIU run with a sacrifice fly in the same inning.
Up 3-0, FIU added single runs in the fifth and sixth innings highlighted by Portelli's ninth double of the season. The RBI hit by Portelli gave him the national lead in doubles. It was Portelli's 10
th hit of the season -- nine of them have been two-baggers.
Portelli finished the game 1-for-5 with three RBI. Schaaf was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
FIU continues its seven-game homestand Saturday with a doubleheader against Manhattan. The first pitch is at 2 p.m. with the second game starting 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game. Sunday's series finale is at 1 p.m.
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