BIRMINGHAM, AL – Nick MacDonald handcuffed UAB bats en route to pitching a 3-0 shutout of the Blazers as FIU capped off a doubleheader sweep Sunday afternoon at Young Memorial Field in Birmingham, Alabama.

The Panthers (16-17, 6-6 Conference USA) took two of three games from the Blazers (14-16, 6-6 C-USA) in the series. Both games of the Sunday doubleheader were seven-inning contests due to travel constraints for FIU.

MacDonald (2-2) allowed four hits, three walks and struck out four in delivering his first career shutout. The sophomore right-hander retired 11 of 13 batters during a stretch between the second and sixth innings.

FIU gave MacDonald enough run support in the fifth and sixth innings.

In the fifth, the Panthers loaded the bases after Logan Allen singled, Lorenzo Hampton, Jr. was hit by a pitch and Juan Teixeira was intentionally walked. Seth Cannady snapped the scoreless game when the freshman drew a bases loaded walk against UAB reliever Carson Jones. Derek Cartaya followed with an RBI fielder's choice to make it 2-0, FIU.

Eddie Silva led off the sixth with a solo home run to left center off Jones. It was the eighth round tripper of the season for Silva, who tied Jose Garcia and Austin Shenton for the team lead.

UAB brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh against MacDonald after the Blazers drew a walk and got a single to start the final frame. However, MacDonald retired the next three batters to preserve the shutout.

On deck, FIU returns home to take on No. 13 Southern Miss in a three-game series beginning Friday from Infinity Insurance Park.