FIU right-hander Chandler Raiden got Mason George to ground out to second base with the tying run at second and two outs in the top of the ninth inning to preserve FIU's 7-6 win over UTSA Thursday night in the opener of a three-game series at the FIU ballpark.

FIU improved to 20-14 on the season and 7-6 in Conference USA while UTSA dropped to 16-16 overall and 6-7 in conference play.

The final out of the night was part of some strong late-inning work from Alex Demchak and Raiden out of the FIU bullpen to seal a taut game. Demchak pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings and struck out three batters.

In the top of the seventh inning with FIU leading 7-6, Demchak entered the game with a runner on first and one out to face Skyler Valentine with UTSA's co-home run leader Jesse Baker waiting on deck. Demchak induced Valentine to ground into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

Demchak then struck out the side in the top of the eighth, including Baker and Bryan Arias, who each have nine home runs to lead the Roadrunners.

Demchak retired five in a row out of the pen before allowing two singles in the ninth. Raiden recorded the final out for his second save.

FIU snapped a 3-3 tie in the third inning off UTSA starter Nolan Trabanino (5-3). Back-to-back walks to Javier Valdes and JC Escarra set the inning up for the Panthers. Kobe Lopez delivered an infield hit to score Valdes to put FIU on top. Kolby Follis's squeeze bunt single plated Escarra to make it 5-3.

Baker hit his ninth home run of the season in the fourth off FIU starter Chris Mourelle to close the FIU lead to 5-4. Mourelle (3-2) went five innings, allowed nine hits and four runs.

The Panthers added to their lead in the sixth when Kenny Meimerstorf's two-run double deep into the right field corner scored Follis and Soria, who reached on a walk and a hit by pitch, respectively. FIU led 7-4.

CJ Pickering made it a one-run game in the top of the seventh with a two-run home run off Dominic LoBrutto before Demchak took over.

Meimerstorf was 1 for 4 with two RBI as was Nick Day, who had a two-run single in the bottom of the first.

The middle of the game the series is Friday at 7 p.m. Tyler Myrick gets the ball for FIU while Tyler Giovanoni starts for UTSA. There is no broadcast of the game but fans can follow the game on Twitter: @FIUBaseball.