PORT CHARLOTTE – Rutgers scored in five consecutive innings to defeat FIU 6-3 at the Snowbird Baseball Classic on Wednesday afternoon at North Charlotte Regional Park.
The Scarlet Knights are now 9-6. The Panthers are 9-9.
Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the third inning, Rutgers got RBI hits from Nick Matera and Kyle Walker to take a 3-2 lead.
The Panthers were behind 1-0 at the start of the third inning but managed to score a pair.
Juan Teixeira led off the inning with a double.
Derek Cartaya walked and
Austin Shenton had an infield single to load the bases.
Javier Valdes drew a bases loaded walk to score Teixeira. Cartaya later scored on an error by Rutgers catcher Matera.
Cartaya, Shenton and Teixeira each had two hits for the Panthers.
FIU opens Conference USA play on Friday at Charlotte. The Panthers and 49ers play a three-game series in the Queen City. First pitch for the series opener is at 6 p.m.
