Kent State scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning to get by FIU, 3-2, Sunday afternoon at the FIU ballpark. The Golden Flashes (6-1) snapped a 1-1 tie to defeat the Panthers (2-5) and take three of four games in the series.

With one out in the ninth, Pete Schuler and Dom Iero hit consecutive singles off Michael Agis (0-2) to put runners on the corners. Chandler Raiden relieved Agis and struck out pinch-hitter Patrick Ferguson. However, Tim Dalporto and Josh Hollander followed with RBI singles to push across two runs and give KSU a 3-1 lead.

FIU got one back in the bottom of the ninth off Jared Skolnicki (1-0) when Derek Cartaya, who walked, scored on an RBI groundout by Javier Valdes but that was as close as the Panthers would come.

The Panthers received a combined eight solid innings on the mound from freshman starter Nick MacDonald and reliever Alex Demchak. MacDonald, making his first college start, went four innings, allowed four hits, one earned run, two walks and struck out six. Demchak pitched four scoreless innings, allowed two hits and struck out three.

Down 1-0 in the bottom of the seventh, FIU tied the score. Cartaya walked and Adam Sevario singled to right. Irving Lopez hit a bloop single to center scoring Cartaya with the tying run. Lopez was 2 for 5.

FIU next hosts Manhattan in a four-game series beginning Friday, March 3 at 7 p.m. The opener of the weekend set between the Panthers and the Jaspers can be seen on PantherVision and C-USA TV.