MIAMI (May 12, 2023) – A nine-run bottom of the third would see the FIU baseball team open a crucial C-USA series against Charlotte with a, 13-4, win on Friday night at FIU Baseball Stadium.
 
Redshirt senior Alec Sanchez led a massive offensive effort by FIU going 2-4 with four RBI, a home run and two walks.
 
Pitchers Daniel McAuliff, Angel Tiburcio and Richie Pena combined to keep the Charlotte offense at bay, limiting the 49ers to four runs and striking out six batters.
 
The Panthers were on the board first taking a, 2-0, lead in the bottom of the second.
 
Ryne Guida led off the inning with a stand up double to right center. Brian Loriga followed him with a pinch-hit single. Henry Wallen would then drive in both teammates with a two-run single up the middle.
 
The FIU offense exploded in the bottom of the third, scoring nine runs and hitting four home runs in the inning.
 
Sanchez got the deluge started with a three-run opposite field home run. The next batter was Guida who promptly put a ball over the left field wall for a solo home run. Loriga stepped up and hit a solo shot of his own for the third-consecutive home run of the inning.
 
Later in the inning, Dante Girardi belted the fourth home run of the inning, adding three more runs for the Panthers.
 
Sanchez would come up to bat again and drive in the ninth run of the inning with a single past the first baseman to make the score 11-0 in favor of FIU.
 
Charlotte avoided the shut out after Cam Fisher hit a solo home run in the top of the fourth.
 
The Panthers pushed the lead to 13-1 at the conclusion of the fourth.
 
A slew of 49er pitching errors, including two hit-by-pitches, three wild pitches and a walk, scored two Panthers without the offense registering a hit.
 
Charlotte added two runs in the top of the sixth.
 
A groundout by Brandon Stahlman drove in the first run with a wild pitch allowing the second to score, cutting the FIU advantage to 13-3.
 
The 49ers would make it 13-4 in the top of the ninth after a solo home run by Will Butcher, but the scoring would end there with the Panthers coming out on top.
 
UP NEXT
FIU and Charlotte play game two of the series on Saturday May 13 with first pitch set for 5 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.