Zach Files drilled a walk-off two-run home run off Clint Clymer in the bottom of the ninth inning to lead FIU to a 4-3 win over Bethune-Cookman at the FIU ballpark Wednesday afternoon.
With the win FIU (16-19) swept the two-game season series from B-CU (14-20) and snapped a three-game losing streak.
Nick Day started the bottom of the ninth inning by hitting a high chopper in front of home plate that bounced toward B-CU shortstop Demetrius Sims. Day beat Sims' throw to first base for the infield hit. Files followed with his third home run of the season over the right field wall into the nature preserve.
FIU and B-CU combined for 30 hits in the game – 28 singles. The home run by Files was just the second extra base hit of the game by FIU.
Eddie Silva had an RBI double in the sixth for the other extra base hit. All of the Wildcats' 15 hits were singles.
B-CU led 3-0 in the sixth before FIU got on the scoreboard. In the bottom of the sixth,
Jack Schaaf was hit by a pitch from Juan Pizzaro with two outs before Silva's run-scoring double.
The Panthers got a run closer in the eighth.
Kolby Follis led off the frame with a single off Zach Olszewski and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Schaaf singled home Follis to cut the B-CU lead to 3-2. Clymer (1-3) entered the game and retired the next three Panthers to end the eighth.
Williams Durruthy (1-3) was the winning pitcher after throwing a scoreless ninth inning. Durruthy was one of four FIU relievers along with
Willy Fabra,
Dominic LoBrutto, and
Robby Kalaf to finish the game with four shutout innings.
On deck FIU travels to Ruston, Louisiana to open a three-game series with Louisiana Tech on Friday. All three games between the Panthers and Bulldogs can be heard on the FIU Sports Radio Network. First pitch on Friday is at 7 p.m. EDT.