BOCA RATON, Fla. (April 10, 2015) – FIU used a four-run rally late to take game one of a three-game series, 6-5, against Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton Friday night. The Panthers improved to 16-18 overall and 7-6 in Conference USA play. The Owls dropped to 26-8 and 9-4 in C-USA.
Down 5-2 entering the top of the eighth inning FIU got key RBIs from
Brian Portelli,
JC Escarra and
Mitchell Robinson to take its first lead of the game.
Portelli's double into the right center field gap scored
Jack Schaaf, who led off the inning with a single.
Edwin Rios walked after Schaaf and moved to third base on the Portelli double. Escarra's ground out scored Rios to make it 5-4. Portelli tied the score coming in from third base on a wild pitch by Seth McGarry.
After a couple of walks to
Josh Anderson and
Zack Soria with an FAU error sandwiched in between, pinch-hitter
Mitchell Robinson drove in the eventual game-winning run on a ground out to shortstop.
Danny Dopico recorded his sixth save by putting away the Owls in the bottom of the ninth inning.
Gianni Zayas (1-2) pitched two scoreless innings in relief of
Cody Crouse to record his first win. Crouse went six innings and allowed two earned runs.
Portelli was 2-for-5 and Escarra was 2-for-4 for the Panthers. Escarra's second-inning single extended his hitting streak to 14 games.
The series continues Saturday at 4 p.m. with FIU freshman right-hander
Andres Nunez opposing FAU right-hander Drew Jackson.?
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