With smoke from a nearby wildfire engulfing Infinity Insurance Park on Sunday, FIU clobbered eight home runs and scored 30 runs in a doubleheader sweep of George Mason.
The Panthers -- which defeated the Patriots 16-0 in game one and 14-3 in the night cap -- improved to 9-7 on season. George Mason is now 4-10.
Lorenzo Hampton, Jr. led the home run derby for the Panthers with three home runs in the twinbill.
Austin Shenton and
Juan Teixeira each hit two home runs.
Javier Valdes had a home run in the night cap.
Game 1 – FIU 16, George Mason 0
In the opening game of the doubleheader, FIU got a one-hit performance from right-hander
Andres Nunez (1-1), who threw six shutout innings.
Nunez didn't need much support but he got plenty.
Shenton had a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning. Hampton hit a two-run shot in the fifth.
FIU scored eight runs in the seventh inning to blow the game open. The highlight of the frame was a three-run home run by Shenton.
In the eighth, Teixeira unloaded a three-run home run to dead center, well over 400 feet.
Game 2 – FIU 14, George Mason 3
In the night cap, Hampton hit home runs in his first two plate appearances -- a solo homer in the first and a two-run home run in the third. Hampton has a team-leading six home runs and 16 RBI on the season.
The Panthers again had another big inning. This time a seven-run sixth inning.
In the sixth, Teixeira smacked another three-run round-tripper, this time to left field.
Teixeira was 6 for 10 with two home runs and eight RBI in the doubleheader.
Shenton was 6 for 11 with two home runs and four RBI. Hampton was 4 for 7 with three homers and seven RBI.
The Panthers and Patriots wrap up their three-game series with a Monday matinee. First pitch is at 1 p.m. from Infinity Insurance Park and admission is free to the game.