MIAMI (April 25, 2015) – It took extra innings in both games on Saturday for the FIU baseball team (20-22, 10-10 C-USA) to claim the first two games of its weekend series with the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (19-21, 4-15 C-USA) as the Panthers won game one, 12-11 (10 innings), and game two, 6-5 (13 innings), at the FIU Baseball Stadium.
 
Senior Brian Portelli was the hero in game one, driving in the game-winning run in the bottom of the 10^th, while senior Josh Anderson hit a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 13^th in game two.
 
The games, both played on Saturday after the series opener was postponed due to inclement weather, were the first back-to-back, conference-series victories for FIU since defeating Charlotte at home (March 21 and 22).
 
In game one, LA Tech jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the top of the first. FIU responded with three run in its half of the first after a three-run home run by junior Edwin Rios – his 13^th of the season. The Bulldogs tacked on two more runs with one in the top of the second and one in the top of the third to extend the lead to 7-3.
 
After a 1:08 lightning delay, FIU chipped away with a run in the bottom of the third. However, LA Tech scored two in the top of the fourth for a 10-4 advantage.
 
Senior Julius Gaines drove in two runs in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run double to make the score 10-6. A run in the top of the sixth made it 11-6, LA Tech. The Panthers exploded for five runs in the bottom of the sixth highlighted by a three-run blast by Portelli to tie the game at 11-all.
 
Unable to determine a winner after 54 outs, the game went to extra innings where Portelli drove in junior Rey Perez from third in the bottom of the 10^th for the win.
 
Reliever Danny Dopico (2-4) earned with win, allowing no runs on two hits, while fanning two in two innings of work.
 
Portelli finished the game hitting 3-for-5 with a run scored and four RBI. Gaines went 3-for-6 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Rios batted 2-for-4 with four RBI and a run scored.
 
Game two started with a three-run first for the Bulldogs. FIU scored one run in the bottom of the second, but LA Tech countered with a run of its own in the top of the third. Heading into bottom of the fifth and trailing 4-1, the Panthers scored three runs to tie game, 4-4. Freshman Jack Schaaf tied the game with a two-run single.
 
Neither team was able to cross the plate until extra innings. The Bulldogs took a 5-4 lead in the top of the 11^th. However, Rios registered a big RBI-single in the bottom of the 11^th to tie the game, 5-5.
 
The Panthers claimed the win in the bottom of the 13^th as Anderson singled to right-center field, scoring Rios from second.
 
Junior Gianni Zayas (2-2) claimed the victory, allowing no runs on no hits with three strikeouts in two innings of action.
 
The third and final game of the weekend series will take place on Sunday, April 26. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. with Chris Mourelle set to take the mound for the Panthers.
 
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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 FIU Arena and Ocean Bank 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 54,000 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.