MIAMI (Feb. 17, 2023) – Baseball opened the 2023 season at home against George Mason on Friday night falling to the Patriots, 8-2.
 
Opening day starter Ryan Cabarcas struck out seven batters in his four innings of action against George Mason, while redshirt senior Evan Chenier fanned four batters in his three innings of work. The Panthers pitching staff would go on to strike out 16 Patriots by the end of the night.
 
Redshirt senior Alec Sanchez hit a solo home run to score the Panther's first run of 2023. Fellow redshirt senior Mike Rosario hit a solo home run in his first-ever at bat for the Panthers.
 
Junior Adrian Figueroa registered the first hit of the game, and the 2023 season, in the bottom of the second after he beat out a grounder to the pitcher.
 
The Patriots would take the lead in the third inning, bringing in two runs without registering a hit.
 
FIU you would respond in the fourth, cutting the deficit to 2-1 after a solo home run by Sanchez.
 
A pitching duel would ensue, before George Mason scored five in the eighth inning.
 
In the bottom of the eighth, Rosario came in as a pinch hitter and hit a home run off the scoreboard in center field.
 
The Panthers would eventually fall to George Mason, 8-2.
 
UP NEXT
Game two of the series against George Mason is set for Saturday February 18 at FIU Baseball Stadium. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. Fans can also watch the game on C-USA TV.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Instagram (@FIU.Baseball), Twitter (@FIUBaseball), and Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUBaseball) for all the latest Baseball news.
 
General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.