MIAMI (February 25, 2021) – Behind an extraordinary pitching performance from Patrick Pridgen, the FIU baseball team downed Seton Hall to win the series opener on Friday night at FIU Baseball Stadium, 1-0. 
 
Pridgen picked up his first win in a Panther uniform to propel the Panthers' record to a perfect 6-0 on the young season. The Apple Valley, Minn., native went seven scoreless innings of five-hit ball with a career-high 13 strikeouts.
 
Friday night's win was the first Panther shutout since Steven Casey no-hit the Marshall Thundering Herd on April 17, 2021. 
 
The Panther trio of Steven Ondina, Dante Girardi and Noel Perez each collected a hit in Friday night's pitching duel. 
 
Girardi's infield hit during the sixth inning proved pivotal, as the Seton Hall pitcher committed an error on the play that allowed the Panther second baseman to reach third. Robert Sotolongo drove Girardi in four pitches later with a sacrifice fly to center giving FIU the 1-0 advantage. 
 
Carlos Lequerica pitched a scoreless eighth before handing the ball off to Angel Tiburcio for the ninth. Tiburcio struck out the side in the final frame for his first save of the season. 
 
UP NEXT
FIU and Michigan will play in game two of the weekend set at FIU Baseball Stadium on Saturday. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. ET.
  
SOCIAL MEDIA
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