LAS CRUCES, NM – Roylan Quevedo's two-run single in the 11th helped propel the FIU baseball program to defeat New Mexico State, 13-11, on the road Friday night from Presley Askew Field.
FIU improves to an overall record of 21-17, including a Conference USA mark of 8-5. In addition, the Panthers tie their win total from their last year set with 21.
Offensively, the 20 hits on the night is marked the most for the program this season and in addition is the most hits in a FIU baseball game since since April 27, 2019 vs Charlotte.
The Panthers jumped out to an early 10-0 lead before the Aggies battled back. New Mexico State used a three-run third, five-run fifth, and a three-run seventh, eventually taking an 11-10 lead into the eighth. FIU then stormed back to tie up the ballgame and headed to extras earning the victory.
FIU's offense shined early, first plating a pair of runs in the first. Ryne Guida doubled into the left centerfield gap, extending his on-base streak to 23 games while Alex Ulloa singled into right field plating Guida.
Guida then rang up his second RBI of the day on a groudout in the second, driving home Brendan Roney.
The power was on notable display in the fifth as FIU plated five runs in the frame including three homers coming from Ulloa while Brylan West and Armando Becerra went back-to-back.
After Ulloa's solo shot to lead the inning off, his seventh of the season, Chase Engelhard made his return to the lineup with a two-run double down the left field line. West then belted a two-run homer to dead center, followed by a laser homer off the bat off Becerra. Ulloa closed the inning with a RBI double. The junior Ulloa had a solid night at the dish with four hits (season-high), two doubles, and three RBIs.
Cameron Knox made the Friday night start for FIU, allowing no earned runs over four innings of work and rang up one batter.
After New Mexico State strung 11 runs for their first lead of the night, FIU responded on an Austin Dearing RBI single to score Becerra in the eighth. The game headed into extras, marking the second consecutive Friday night the Panthers were playing free baseball.
FIU sealed the go-ahead runs in the 11th as with the bases full, Quevedo lined a ball past the glove of the shortstop into the outfield, scoring Nick Pitelli and West.
Ryan Cabarcas shut the door in the bottom half, earning the win with a scoreless 11th. The lefty worked 4.1 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and punched out five Aggie batters for his fifth win of the year.
Through the box score, six players logged multi-hit performances for the Panthers. Alongside Ulloa's four-hit night, Becerra and Guida each had three-hit games. West, Jeff Liquori, and Engelhard racked up two-hit games in the lineup.
As a team, the Panthers had six doubles as a unit with Engelhard and Ulloa each having two. The six doubles are the most in a game this season and the most for FIU since March 4, 2023 when the Panthers defeated Harvard, 18-17, at FIU Baseball Stadium.
UP NEXT
FIU looks for a series victory against the Aggies on Saturday, April 20 for a 4 p.m. first pitch from Las Cruces. It can be streamed on ESPN+.
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