JC Escarra singled home
Irving Lopez with the eventual-winning run as FIU rallied in thrilling fashion in the top of the ninth inning to defeat Miami, 5-4, Wednesday night at Mark Light Field in Coral Gables.
With the victory, the Panthers (26-17) took the season series from the crosstown Hurricanes (20-21). FIU won three of the four games the two hometown teams played this season. Before the first game between the schools this season on March 7, it had been nine years since FIU and UM played a regular season game.
The Panthers entered the top of the ninth against UM closer Frankie Bartow trailing 4-3, but with one out the comeback started.
Adam Sevario singled to left field and pinch-hitter
C.J. Witkowski singled to center. Then the Hurricanes defense and Bartow (1-3) helped out the Panthers.
With Sevario at second and
Kobe Lopez, who pinch-ran for Witkowski, at first,
Irving Lopez grounded to UM first baseman Christopher Barr, who got the force out at second. However, shortstop Randy Batista's throw to first sailed past Bartow allowing Sevario to score the tying run.
Bartow tried to nail Sevario at the plate but his throw went way past catcher Joe Gomez and bounced off the front of the FIU dugout on the third base side.
The throwing error by Bartow was huge because it allowed
Irving Lopez to reach second base and be in scoring position as the potential go-ahead run.
Five pitches later, Escarra lined a single to right field scoring
Irving Lopez to put FIU in front 5-4. Bartow walked
Zack Soria and the UM right-hander's night was short-lived as he was sent to the showers.
It was the second time this season that FIU rallied against Bartow. The Panthers had a walk-off win against Bartow on March 8 at FIU when
Kolby Follis scored from second base on a sacrifice fly by
Nick Day.
FIU senior right-hander
Michael Agis kept the Panthers in the game with sterling relief pitching after taking over for starter
Chris Mourelle. Agis (1-2) pitched 4 1/3 shutout innings, allowed just three hits and struck out six batters. Agis, who had a stretch where he retired 9 of 10 Hurricanes, tied a career-high with the six punchouts.
After surrendering a one-out single to James Davison in the bottom of the ninth, Agis silenced the two most dangerous bats in the UM order. Agis struck out Carl Chester and jammed Romy Gonzalez, who fittingly popped out to Agis just behind the mound to end the game.
Escarra got the Panthers' first run by belting his team-leading ninth home run of the season over the right field wall. The blast shaved the UM lead to 2-1 in the third. Escarra was 2 for 5 with two RBI.
Javier Valdes had an RBI double in the sixth to bring the Panthers to within 4-3.
ON DECK
FIU resumes Conference USA play Friday night when the Panthers open a three-game series at Florida Atlantic. The first pitch from Boca Raton is at 6:30 p.m. from FAU Stadium.
