NORFOLK, Virginia (April 20, 2019) – After Friday night's series opener was postponed due to weather, the FIU baseball team (17-21, 7-10 Conference USA) dropped game one by a score of 8-6 before rallying in the nightcap to beat Old Dominion (23-15, 6-11) 12-6.
FIU's
Nick MacDonald tallied the win in game two after pitching six innings of five-run ball with four strikeouts. Nick Pantos of Old Dominion was handed the loss.
In game two,
Austin Shenton and
Juan Teixeira each totaled three hits on the night. Shenton added three RBIs to his team lead of 38, while extending his career-best on base streak to 14-games.
The duo of
Jose Garcia and
Javier Valdes each had two hits with multiple RBIs. Garcia drove in three and Valdes batted in two.
Old Dominion opened the nightcap with a run in the first and two in the second before Shenton doubled home
Jarrett Ford to put FIU on the board in the third. Shenton later scored on a wild pitch.
ODU answered with a run in the home half of the third. FIU scored four in the fifth that was highlighted by a Valdes bases loaded double that scored two. Garcia platted two on a single back up the middle to complete the four spot and give the Panthers a 6-4 lead.
The Monarchs cut the lead to 6-5 in the sixth with a solo shot over the center field wall. FIU answered by batting around in the top of the seventh and putting up a six spot on the board, that featured a
Chris Williams RBI triple to start the barrage that put the game out of reach.
Christian Santana pitched three innings in relief to close out the game, only giving up a single run in the ninth.
In game one, ODU scored eight unanswered runs before the FIU rally fell short.
Logan Allen suffered the loss after pitching five innings of six-earned run ball. Hunter Gregory was handed the win for the Monarchs.
Juan Teixeira's eighth inning two-run dinger highlighted the Panther rally. Shenton and
Derek Cartaya collected two hits apiece, while the trio of
Angel Tiburcio, Garcia and
Seth Cannady each batted in a run during the matinee.
Isaiah Nelson was awarded the save for pitching a clean ninth.
UP NEXT
The Panthers and Monarchs decide the series on Sunday at high noon in Norfolk.
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.
