MIAMI - The FIU baseball program scored eight runs in the seventh inning to rally back and take game two of the opening CUSA series against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders in a 11-6 victory on Saturday night from FIU Baseball Stadium.

The Panthers trailed 6-3 heading into the seventh, but responded adding eight runs on seven hits to take a five-run lead and the eventual game two winner. The inning began with a pair of walks and a single to load up the bases for Andre Martinez. The senior hit a sacrfiice fly to right field, scoring Jeff Liquori to cut the deficit to two. Brylan West ripped a double into right center to bring home a pair of runs and tie up the ballgame. West ended the night with three-hits and two doubles, alongside three RBIs to his name.

Chase Engelhard stepped up and grounded to short for an infield single that eventually turned into an error by the Blue Raider shortsop that scored West from second, giving FIU their first lead of the night. Ryne Guida came through for a RBI base knock into left stretching FIU's lead to two. The bats were not done as Austin Dearing came off the bench with an RBI double into right, extending his on-base streak to seven games. Liquori finished off the offensive outburst for a two-run single through the left side.

FIU's pitching held off the Middle Tennessee offense as Orlando Hernandez shut the door in the eighth and ninth with scoreless frames to secure the win for the Panthers.

The Blue Raiders jumped out early in the first, plating a pair on a solo shot and RBI double. In the second, Martinez plated a run on his first of two sacrifice fly's on the evening for the Davie, Fla. native.

Middle Tennessee responded with a run in third before scoring three in the fourth, highlighted by a two-run homer and two-run double, stretching their lead to four.

Brendan Roney logged his second homer of the year in the fourth with a solo blast off the scoreboard, beginning the comeback for the Panthers.

A key play highlighted in the fifth by FIU was a home run robbery from left fielder Kishon Frett, helped limit a run off the board for the Blue Raiders.

Logan Runde made his third appearance out the bullpen, earning the win (2-2), firing off four innings while allowing three earned runs and struck out four.

Owen Puk started his fifth game of the season, only working three innings on the bump, giving up two runs with four punchouts.

POSTGAME NOTES

- The Panthers offense logged 19 hits, their most hits in a single game this season. Most hits in a game since April 27, 2019 vs Charlotte 49ers.
- Four Panthers notched 3+ hit performances (Engelhard, Liquori, Alex Ulloa, and West).
- Chase Engelhard totaled for four hits on the night, a career-high for the Atlanta, Georgia native.
- With his three-hit game, Ulloa has back-to-back with three hits and his fourth overall on the season
- Dearing extended his on-base streak to seven games with his pinch hit RBI double.
- Martinez has six RBIs in his past three games
- Guida and Liquori are tied for the team-lead in RBIs (19), while West is second with 18.
- West two doubles tonight stretches his team-lead in doubles (7)
- Hernandez has dropped his season ERA to 0.64, yet to allow an earned run in his past 8.2 innings pitched.



UP NEXT
FIU will look to take the series in the rubber match Sunday afternoon from FIU Baseball Stadium. First pitch is set for noon and can be streamed on ESPN+.

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