CHARLOTTE — Charlotte left-hander Josh Maciejewski handcuffed FIU bats over eight innings as the 49ers defeated the Panthers, 6-2, in the rubber game of a three-game series on a cold 46-degree Sunday afternoon at Hayes Stadium in Charlotte.
FIU dropped to 11-13 on the season and 1-2 in Conference USA play. Charlotte is now 11-9 and 2-1 in C-USA.
Maciejewski allowed just five hits, two runs, walked three and struck out eight batters to even his record at 2-2. The performance was a turnaround from the lefty's last outing against FIU in 2015. In that game the Panthers knocked out Maciejewski after five innings tagging him for nine hits and five runs in an FIU win.
On Sunday the only time the Panthers got to Maciejewski was for two runs in the top of the sixth inning.
Zack Soria led off with a double to left and
Nick Day reached on a fielder's choice when Hunter Jones's throw to third base was late trying to nab Soria.
Zach Files and
Kenny Meimerstorf each followed with an RBI single.
The two-run sixth inning brought FIU within one run of Charlotte, which got three runs off of Panthers starter
Garrett Cave (1-2) in the bottom of the fourth inning.
The 49ers strung four straight hits off Cave in the fourth, the big blow a two-run triple by Zach Jarrett off the base of the center field wall. Derek Fritz added an RBI single.
Charlotte added three unearned runs off FIU reliever
Nate Pearson in the bottom of the seventh to complete its scoring.
On deck, FIU opens a three-game series at home against Marshall on Thursday, March 24 at 6:30 p.m. The game can be seen on PantherVision and heard on the FIU Sports Radio Network.
The Panthers and Thundering Herd continue the series Friday at 6:30 p.m. and conclude the set Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. There is no game Sunday because of Easter.
