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Kenny Meimerstorf
Kenny Meimerstorf was 3 for 3 to raise his team-leading average to .381.
8
Winner FIU FIU 17-11
3
Mississippi State MS 19-11
Winner
FIU FIU
17-11
8
Final
3
Mississippi State MS
19-11
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
FIU FIU 0 2 0 0 1 1 4 0 0 8 14 0
Mississippi State MS 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 4 1

W: Garcia, Robert (2-4) L: Trey Jolly (0-1) S: LoBrutto, Dominic (2)

Game Recap: Baseball |

NO MAGIC NECESSARY: On Harry Potter Night, FIU bats whack No. 22 Mississippi State, 8-3

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- On Harry Potter Night at Dudy Noble Field, FIU didn't need any magic sticks to zap No. 22 Mississippi State, 8-3, and snap the Bulldogs' seven-game winning streak.

The Panthers (17-11) whacked 14 hits, two long home runs and got commanding pitching to defeat the Bulldogs (19-11) in the teams' first-ever meeting. FIU has now won 15 of its last 20 games.

MSU opened the scoring in the bottom of the first on Brent Rooker's two-run home run off FIU starter Robert Garcia. It was Rooker's 10th round tripper, which leads the Southeastern Conference.

The home run was the only threat the Bulldogs would pose. Garcia retired the next 15 consecutive Bulldogs and had a career-high-tying nine strikeouts. Garcia (2-4) went six innings, allowed just three hits and three runs.

Meanwhile, FIU rallied to back Garcia.

Nick Day hit a towering 409-foot two-run home run off MSU starter Graham Ashcraft over the 20-foot wall in dead center field to tie the score in the top of the second inning. Day, who led FIU with 10 home runs last season, hit his fourth home run to tie JC Escarra for the team lead.

FIU took the lead for good in the fifth against Trey Jolly (0-1) with three straight singles by Javier Valdes, Kenny Meimerstorf and Escarra, who drove in Valdes.

The Panthers put the Bulldogs away with a four-run seventh.

With one out in the seventh, Meimerstorf belted a solo home run deep over the left field wall. Escarra singled and was pinch-run for by Kolby Follis, who scored on a single to center by Day. Zach Files walked. Jack Schaaf singled home Day and Files scored on a squeeze bunt by Kobe Lopez to make it 8-3.

Meimerstorf was 3 for 3 to increase his team-leading average to .381. Valdes, Escarra, Day and Schaaf each had two hits. Day drove in three runs.

Dominic LoBrutto pitched the final three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and struck out three to record his second save.

The Panthers and Bulldogs wrap up the two-game series Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. EDT before FIU heads south to Hattiesburg to take on Southern Miss on Friday.
 
 
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