FIU has 19 newcomers on its team this season. Three of those rookie Panthers introduced themselves just fine to the home crowd Tuesday night as FIU took care of St. Thomas 6-1 in its home opener at the FIU ballpark. The Panthers improved to 1-3 to begin a 16-game home stand. The Bobcats are 7-7.

Junior college transfer left-hander Alex Demchak threw five shutout innings. Freshman Nate Pearson followed with three scoreless frames. JUCO transfer Kenny Meimerstorf provided the offense through the first six innings before FIU scored five late runs.

Meimerstorf, who transferred from the College of Southern Nevada, golfed a change-up from Bobcats starter Andrew Denis off the left field foul pole for his first career FIU home run in the bottom of the third inning. FIU led 1-0.

Demchak (1-0), a St. Petersburg College transfer, allowed just two hits through five innings to preserve the slim lead. Pearson followed Demchak by striking out four batters in three shutout innings. Pearson was the Class 3A Player of the Year last season at Bishop McLaughlin High. Dominic LoBrutto finished the game for FIU allowing one unearned run.

FIU added three runs in the seventh. The first run on a sacrifice fly by JC Escarra after Irving Lopez and Jack Schaaf walked to start the inning. Eddie Silva singled to center with the bases loaded to drive in two runs.

Schaaf's RBI single and another Escarra sacrifice fly in the eighth completed the scoring for the Panthers.

Silva was 2 for 3 with two RBI. Schaaf and Meimerstorf were both 2 for 4 with an RBI.

FIU next plays Missouri at the FIU ballpark Wednesday afternoon with the first pitch at 3 p.m. The game can be seen on PantherVision and heard on the FIU Sports Radio Network.