Garrett Cave struck out a career-high nine Loyola Marymount batters over 6 1/3 shutout innings as the sophomore right-hander helped FIU split a doubleheader with the Lions on Saturday at the FIU ballpark.

The Panthers (5-7) won the nightcap 6-0 after the Lions (5-6) took the first game 10-3.

With his dominant performance Saturday, Cave has not allowed an earned run in his last 11 2/3 innings pitched and lowered his team-leading ERA to 1.96.

Cave (1-1) got the only run he would need in the bottom of the first inning. FIU leadoff man Kolby Follis tripled to deep left center on the first pitch of the game from LMU starter Blake Redman (1-2). Jack Schaaf drove in Follis with a sacrifice fly to deep left.

FIU got single runs in the fourth and fifth innings before scoring three runs in the eighth thanks to a throwing error by LMU reliever Michael Silva. JC Escarra, who doubled to lead off the inning, and Zach Files, who walked, scored on the error after Silva fielded Eddie Silva's sacrifice bunt and flung it down the left field line.

Alex Demchak worked the final 2 2/3 innings in relief of Cave to record his first career save.

Irving Lopez led the Panthers in game two going 3 for 4. Escarra was 2 for 4.

In the first game of the doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, LMU designated hitter Nico Decolati smacked a three-run home run off Chris Mourelle (1-2) in the top of the sixth inning to snap a 2-2 tie.

Decolati, who is 4 for 14 in the series, has hit for the cycle in the series and has eight RBI.

The Lions tacked on five runs in the final two innings helped in part by three walks and four hit batters by FIU relievers.

Cory Abbott (1-1) allowed two runs over eight innings to record the win for LMU.

The Panthers and Lions wrap up the four-game series with a Sunday matinee. First pitch is at 1 p.m. and the game can be seen on PantherVision and heard on the FIU Sports Radio Network.