MIAMI (March 19, 2022) – Behind an eight-run second inning outburst, the FIU baseball team ended an 11-game losing skid on Saturday night as the Panthers topped the visiting Marshall Thundering Herd by a score of 11-3 at FIU Baseball Stadium.
 
The dynamic outfield duo of Robert Sotolongo and Rey Hernandez led the Panther attack under a picturesque South Florida sky. Sotolongo and Hernandez each homered on the evening, while Sotolongo's was the Panthers' first grand slam since Seth Cannady's against the same Thundering Herd on April 17, 2021.
 
To add depth to the lineup, Matthew Gonzalez added two hits and scored once. Jorge Ramirez stayed hot with a RBI and a run scored. Dalton Hurst also drove in a run on the night.
 
Richie Pena picked up his second win of the season by pitching three innings of one-hit shutout ball. David Eckaus tossed four strong shutout innings of relief to pick up his first save in a Panther uniform.
 
Marshall jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after the opening inning and a half before the Panthers pounced for eight runs in the home half of the second for FIU's largest single inning offensive outburst of the season.
 
A Hernandez single to right made cut the Herd lead to 3-1 before Marshall walked Hurst with the bases loaded to plate Gonzalez and make it 3-2 game with Sotolongo stepping to the plate.
 
On a 3-1 pitch, Sotolongo turned on one and sent it deep into the Miami night. Sotolongo's grand slam put FIU out front for good with a 6-3 lead.
 
The Blue & Gold then proceeded to bat around scoring one more run in the frame when Adrian Figueroa came around to score on a Ramirez single to left to cap the eight-run barrage.
 
Hernandez's first homer of the year came in the fourth to push the FIU lead to 9-3. Hurst and Hernandez later scored on a Marshall error in the seventh giving the Panthers the final 11-3 advantage.
 
UP NEXT
The rubber match between FIU and Marshall is slated for Noon on Sunday.

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.