MIAMI (March 23, 2019) – The FIU baseball team dropped Saturday night's matchup against WKU by a score of 5-4 after a heartbreaking ninth inning at the FIU Baseball Stadium.

FIU's record slides to 11-11 (2-3 C-USA), while WKU improves to 10-11 (4-1 C-USA) on the season.

WKU's Bailey Sutton earned the win after pitching a scoreless inning. Will Saxton was burdened with the loss after allowing the game-winning run in the ninth.
 
Derek Cartaya paced the Panther bats on Saturday night, after going 3-for-4 with a run scored. Jose Garcia contributed a 2-for-4 night in the DH role. Juan Teixeira and Javier Valdes each homered deep into the Saturday night sky.
 
Teixeira's solo shot in the third inning opened the scoring on the evening. WKU answered with a pair in the fourth to take a 2-1 lead. Cartaya singled to open the fifth before eventually coming around to score on a John Rodriguez base knock.
 
The two-all tie held until the eighth when Adan Fernandez reached on an error by the WKU shortstop to spark a rally. Jarrett Ford pinch ran for Fernandez and scored when Valdes poked one over the right field wall for his second homer in as many nights.  
 
The Panthers entered the top of the ninth with a 4-2 lead before Jose Varela allowed two singles and gave way to Will Saxton, who allowed a RBI single and two wild pitches to bring the winning run home for WKU.
 
Joe Filosa recorded the two-out save for the Hilltoppers.  
 
UP NEXT
Saturday's outcome sets up a rubber match on Sunday at the FIU Baseball Stadium. First pitch is slated for nigh noon.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
Get all the latest information on the team by following @FIUBaseball on Facebook and @FIUBaseball on Twitter and Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.