Zach Files's solo walk-off home run in the bottom of the 12^th inning lifted FIU to a 7-6 win over Kent State in the opener of a doubleheader Saturday at the FIU ballpark.

The Golden Flashes (5-1) answered with a one-run win of their own against the Panthers (2-4) in the nightcap. KSU defeated FIU, 3-2, behind a complete game by Zach Willeman.

In the first game, FIU rallied twice in the late innings before winning on the second of two home runs by Files in the game. Down 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth, Javier Valdes's sacrifice fly scored a hustling Derek Cartaya, who singled, with the tying run to force extra innings.

KSU scored four runs in the top of the 10^th inning off freshman Tyler Myrick (1-0) before FIU answered with four runs after two were out in the bottom of the 10^th. Files hit a two-run home run to cut the deficit to 6-4. Valdes had an RBI single and Irving Lopez's RBI double tied the score 6-6.

In the bottom of the 12^th inning with one out, Files launched his walk-off home run off Aaron Tadian (0-1) into the right field preserve. It was Files's second walk-off home run in an FIU uniform. Files left Bethune-Cookman on the field with a walk-off shot last year at FIU.

Files was 2 for 3 with three RBI in the first game. Kenny Meimerstorf was 3 for 5 with a solo home run. Lopez and Cartaya each had two hits.

Game 2 – Kent State 3, FIU 2

Kent State right-hander Zach Willeman allowed four hits and one earned run over seven innings in the nightcap to gain a split of the twinbill for the Golden Flashes. Both head coaches agreed to a seven-inning game for the second game.

FIU jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the first on the strength of a double by Valdes and an RBI single by Lopez, who scored the second run on a wild pitch by Willeman.

KSU answered with single runs in the third and fifth innings off FIU starter Andrew George (0-1). The Flashes plated the decisive run on an RBI single from Tim Dalporto. Luke Burch, who singled earlier in the inning, scored the go-ahead run.

In his first career FIU start, George went five innings, allowed eight hits, two earned runs, a walk and struck out four.

FIU nearly tied the score in the final inning off Willeman, who allowed two hits after the first inning.

In the bottom of the seventh with two outs, Cartaya reached on an infield single and moved to second base on a throwing error by Josh Hollander. However, Hollander redeemed himself making a diving grab on a line drive off the bat of Adam Sevario to end the game.

FIU and Kent State wrap up the four-game series Sunday afternoon with a 1 p.m. first pitch from the FIU ballpark. Freshman right-hander Nick MacDonald (0-0, 0.00 ERA) gets the ball for FIU. Right-hander Joey Murray (0-0, 4.50 ERA) counters for KSU.

The game can be seen on PantherVision at FIUSports.com and C-USA TV.