MIAMI (April 21, 2023) – The FIU baseball team hosted No. 22 UTSA in the opening game of a three-game series on Friday falling to the Roadrunners, 22-8.
The Panthers struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second.
Ryne Guida doubled down the left field line and was pushed to third on a ground out by
Adrian Figueroa.
Henry Wallen then stepped up and drove in Guida with a RBI single to left.
UTSA responded immediately with two runs in the top of the third. With the bases loaded, Antonio Valdez delivered a two-run single to right.
The two sides would continue to trade runs with the Roadrunners coming out on top after the fourth inning.
In the bottom of the third,
Mike Rosario put a ball off the scoreboard to put FIU up, 3-2.
Six-straight hits for UTSA in the top of the fourth would net them five runs. Sammy Diaz poked one through the right side for an RBI single and Taylor Smith would put up four runs with a grand slam over the left field wall.
The UTSA advantage grew to 9-3 in the top of the fifth after a two-run single by Garrett Poston.
In the sixth, three more Roadrunners would cross home. With the bases loaded a passed ball would allow one run to score. Poston delivered for UTSA again with a two-run single up the middle.
The Panthers started to chip away at their deficit in the bottom of the sixth when
Dante Girardi launched a ball over the left field wall to bring the score to 12-5.
UTSA would go on score 10 in the seventh off a grand slam, a two-run single and three RBI singles.
FIU showed great patience in the bottom of the seventh, drawing three walks including Girardi picking up a RBI with a bases loaded walk.
In the eighth, the Panthers scored two more runs. Another bases loaded walk, this time worked by
Craig Palidar, scored the first run and a
Noel Perez single through the left side scored the second.
The final score would be 22-8 in favor of UTSA.
UP NEXT
The Panthers and the Roadrunners square off in game 2 on Saturday April 22. First pitch at FIU Baseball Stadium is set for 4:00 p.m.
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.
