DELAND, Fla. -- FIU struck early against host Stetson with a six-run third inning Wednesday night en route to a 10-6 win and a two-game sweep of the Hatters at Melching Field in DeLand.

With the victory, the Panthers (11-7) won their fourth-straight series. FIU has now won nine of its last 11 games before Conference USA play begins Friday. The Hatters dropped to 7-12.

In the top of the third inning, the Panthers got some help from Stetson starter Austin Bogart (0-2), who walked Derek Cartaya and hit Javier Valdes with a pitch. Irving Lopez singled in between the walk and hit batter as FIU loaded the bases. Kenny Meimerstorf rapped a sharp single to left field to score Cartaya and Lopez to open the scoring.

Zack Soria moved Valdes and Meimerstorf over with a sacrifice bunt before Zach Files walked. Nick Day then roped a double down the left field line that cleared
the bases and made it a 5-0 FIU lead. Christian Khawam doubled into the left center field gap scoring Day and giving the Panthers six runs in the third inning.

FIU freshman right-hander Tyler Myrick kept the Hatters in check. Myrick (2-0) went 5 2/3 innings, allowed six hits, three earned runs, walked three and struck out five.  

Stetson narrowed the FIU lead to 7-5 with two runs off reliever Gio Soto in the sixth inning before Michael Agis quelled the threat.

The Panthers put the game away with three runs in the eighth. Adam Sevario walked to lead off the inning and came around to score on Valdes's single to center. Meimerstorf reached on an error by Stetson third baseman Jordan Morrow. Soria followed by slashing an outside fastball down the right field line scoring Valdes and Meimerstorf and extending the Panthers' lead to 10-5.

FIU hosts Charlotte Friday night to start both teams' Conference USA slates. The first pitch from the FIU ballpark is at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on PantherVision and C-USA TV.