DAYTONA BEACH — FIU hit a season-high five home runs and had a season-high 26 hits in a 21-8 rout of Bethune-Cookman at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Tuesday in Daytona Beach.
The Panthers (13-15) sent 14 batters to the plate in a nine-run fifth inning to break open the game with the Wildcats (11-15). FIU led 5-4 at the start of the top of the fifth inning.
In the fifth,
Kolby Follis led off reaching base on an error by third baseman Trent Nash. FIU went through its lineup in the fifth before making the first out — a sacrifice fly by Follis on his second plate appearance of the inning.
The Panthers scored nine runs on nine hits in the fifth.
Eddie Silva and
Zack Soria each had two hits in the fifth inning. Silva singled twice in the fifth. Soria doubled twice in the fifth.
Both Silva and Soria had five hits in the game. Silva was 5 for 5 and scored four runs. Soria was 5 for 6 with two home runs (a three-run shot and a two-run drive), six RBI and also scored four runs. Soria fell a triple shy of the cycle. Silva leads the team with a .404 average.
FIU was down 2-1 in the top of the third inning before Soria hit the three-run homer. B-CU tied the score with two runs in the bottom of the inning.
But in the top of the fourth inning,
Austin Rodriguez put the Panthers ahead to stay with a solo home run off Wildcats starter Donte Lindsay (2-3). The blast hit off the top of the batting cages in left field.
Rodriguez was 3 for 5.
Rey Perez was 3 for 5 with two RBI.
Nick Day hit his team-leading fifth home run of the season — a two-run homer in the fifth.
Kenny Meimerstorf capped the FIU home run derby with a solo round tripper that clanked off the left field foul pole in the sixth.
FIU overcame 14 walks issued by its pitching staff in what was a bullpen game with reliever
Robert Garcia getting the start.
Willy Fabra (1-2) got the win. Fabra pitched two innings, allowed no hits but gave up three walks that resulted in three runs.
On deck, FIU opens a three-game series at UTSA at 7 p.m. Friday from Roadrunner Field in San Antonio, Texas.
