Nick MacDonald pitched six shutout innings and Jose Garcia hit another home run as FIU defeated Florida A&M 7-2 in the opener of a two-game set Tuesday night at the FIU ballpark.

The Panthers improved to 4-3. The Rattlers dropped to 4-6.

MacDonald (1-0) allowed just four hits and struck out eight batters to record his first win of 2018. The sophomore right-hander had a stretch where he retired 14 of 16 FAMU batters.

Garcia continued his torrid stretch at the plate, hitting his third home run in as many games. The freshman catcher hit a two-run home run in the second inning to stake FIU to a 2-0 lead. Garcia added an RBI single in the seventh inning to make him 6 for 11 in his last three games. He was 2 for 3 Tuesday.

Christian Khawam doubled to lead off the third and scored on a single by Diandre Amion, who had two hits. Garcia and Eddie Silva each two hits as well among the Panthers 10 hits.

Javier Valdes's RBI double in the fifth made it 4-0 FIU. Austin Shenton, who walked, scored on the two-bagger.

The Panthers and Rattlers conclude their series with a Wednesday matinee. First pitch from the FIU ballpark is at 3 p.m.