HOUSTON -- In an early hole against Rice on Sunday, FIU battled back to defeat the Owls 7-5 and win the three-game series at Reckling Park in Houston.
The Panthers (14-10, 3-3 Conference USA) erased a 5-0 first-inning deficit with three runs in the second and three runs in the fourth. With the win FIU took two of three games from Rice (7-19, 1-5).
Darryn Sheppard hit a grand slam off FIU starter
Nick MacDonald (3-0) in the bottom of the first inning to stake Rice to a 5-0 lead. However after the first inning, MacDonald regrouped to throw four consecutive shutout innings to give his teammates a chance to come back.
The Panthers got three runs back in the second inning when
JC Escarra launched a three-run home run to right off Rice starter Dane Myers (0-3).
FIU took the lead for good in the fourth with four consecutive hits. With one out,
Zack Soria and Escarra hit back to back singles.
Zach Files doubled into the left center field gap scoring Soria to cut the Owls lead to 5-4.
Kolby Follis followed by slapping a double down the right field line plating Escarra and Files to push the Panthers ahead 6-5.
Escarra was 3 for 4 with three RBI. Follis was 2 for 4 with two RBI.
Kenny Meimerstorf was 2 for 4.
FIU pitching took over the game after the rocky first inning. Following MacDonald's four scoreless frames was
Dominic LoBrutto, who pitched 3 2/3 shutout innings, before
Franklin Van Gurp shut the door in the ninth.
Van Gurp got Rice cleanup hitter Dominic DiCaprio looking at strike three for the final out. Van Gurp recorded his second save.
FIU returns home for its next game when the Panthers open a three-game series with UAB starting Friday at the FIU ballpark. The series opener is at 7 p.m. and can be seen on PantherVision and C-USA TV.
