BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The FIU Baseball program opened up their road weekend set with the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, taking down the CUSA foe in run-rule fashion with an 11-1 victory on Friday afternoon from Nick Denes Field.
FIU racked up 11 runs on 12 hits and four extra-base knocks. Four players recorded multi-hit efforts (Kishon Frett, Jeff Liquori, Ronny Medina, and Alex Ulloa).
The Panthers got on the board quicky, scoring five runs in the 1st with two outs. Adrian Figueroa singled into left field to bring home Andre Martinez before Liquori ripped a double into the gap for two RBIs, adding to his team-lead in runs batted in. (24). In addition, Liquori has 12 hits and nine RBIs in his past six games.
Next batter up, Frett smacked a baseball over the left center field wall for a two-run homer, his team-leading seventh of the campaign to close out the five spot.
Cameron Knox made the start for FIU and rolled on to earn the win (1-2). The senior did not allow an earned run over 4.2 innings of work, giving up just three hits and struck out a pair.
FIU added runs in the fourth on an Austin Dearing RBI groundout before an Ryne Guida double that brought around Samuel Fischer to extend the lead 7-1. Guida has extended his on-base streak to six games alongside seven hits and two doubles in that span.
The offense rolled on scoring three in the fifth, highlighted in the inning on a Ronny Medina two-run base knock. An RBi in the seventh from Fischer to score Frett added the Panthers lead to ten.
Zac Lampton shut the door in the seventh, leading FIU to a second run-rule victory in their past three games. The southpaw worked 2.1 innings on just one hit.
Alex Ulloa posted an multi-hit effort with a pair of hits, having recorded 11hits in his past six games played. Dearing extended his on-base streak to ten games with a pair of walks.
UP NEXT
FIU prepares for the middle game of the series against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Saturday, March. 23 for a 5 p.m. first pitch from Nick Denes Field. It will be streamed live on ESPN+.
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
