Box Score RUSTON, La. (April 15, 2023) – The FIU baseball team took on Louisiana Tech in the second of three games on Saturday, falling to the Bulldogs in extra innings, 3-2.

Pitching and defense were the stars of the first five innings as both sides played shutout baseball, turning a combined five double plays.

Starter Jackson Ritchey went three scoreless innings, allowing only three hits and issuing only one walk. Ryan Cabarcas took over in the fourth and threw four scoreless innings of his own.

The Panthers finally broke the deadlock in the sixth inning taking a 1-0 lead.
 
With two outs on the board, Mike Rosario made his way to second after stealing his, C-USA best, 17th base. Ruben Carpio stepped into the batter's box and delivered a hard-hit single that would drive in Rosario and give FIU the lead.
 
In the next half inning, LA Tech threatened to score with runners on the corners with only one out. Dante Girardi would end the inning with a fantastic effort to turn a 4-3 double play and preserve the lead.
 
Louisiana Tech was able to draw even in the eighth on a RBI single by Dalton Davis, but Daniel McAuliff was able to keep the game tied by inducing two fly balls to get the Panthers out of the inning.
 
FIU regained the lead in the top of the ninth thanks to an Alec Sanchez solo home run. Facing a 2-2 count with one out on the board, Sanchez drove the ball opposite field and over the wall to put the Panthers ahead, 2-1.
 
The Bulldogs would force extra innings after manufacturing a run in the bottom of the ninth.
 
A fielding error and a fielder's choice put a runner in scoring position for LA Tech's Colton Hegwood who tied the game with a single to deep right field.
 
The game would end in the 11th inning in the first at bat after a walk-off solo home run by the Bulldogs' Philip Matulia.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers close out the series with Louisiana Tech on Sunday with first pitch set for 12 p.m. Fans can watch the game live 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.