OXFORD, Miss. — FIU managed to grab its first lead of the weekend against No. 24 Ole Miss in the top of the first inning Sunday afternoon at Swayze Field. However, the early advantage was short-lived as the Rebels answered with an avalanche of runs and coasted to a 16-5 win and a three-game sweep of the series. 

Irving Lopez and Jack Schaaf set the table for the Panthers (0-3) in the first with Lopez leading the game off with a single to right. Schaaf reached base on a bunt when Rebels starting pitcher Sean Johnson slipped on the wet grass as he fielded the ball. 

A couple of wild pitches later Lopez scored and Schaaf moved to third base. JC Escarra drove home Schaaf on a grounder to second base to give FIU a 2-0 lead.

But the game unraveled for FIU In the bottom of the first inning. Starter Garrett Cave (0-1) was pulled after three walks, a hit batter and a two-run single by Will Golsan tied the score. Cave recorded one out when he picked off Connor Cloyd at second base.

Newcomer Michael Agis relieved Cave and surrendered six hits and seven runs. The go-ahead hit was a two-run single by Holt Perdzock. The Rebels sent 12 batters to the plate before the first inning ended with Ole Miss ahead 9-2.

FIU first baseman Nick Day hit his first career home run as a Panther in the fourth inning. It was a two-run shot to right for the Arizona Western College transfer. Day went 2 for 3 with two RBI. Austin Rodriguez was also 2 for 3 for FIU.

FIU begins a 16-game home stand Tuesday. The Panthers take on St. Thomas University in their home opener Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. at the FIU ballpark. The game will be video streamed for free on PantherVision and can also be heard on the FIU Sports Radio Network.