MIAMI – The FIU baseball program closed out Conference USA play on Sunday afternoon, losing 10-6 to the Sam Houston State Bearkats from FIU Baseball Stadium.
Prior to the game, 15 seniors honored
Armando Becerra,
Matthew Corpas,
Chase Engelhard,
Adrian Figueroa,
Ryne Guida,
Orlando Hernandez,
Cameron Knox,
Zac Lampton,
Jeff Liquori,
Andre Martinez,
Ronny Medina,
Richie Pena,
Nick Pitelli,
Jackson Ritchey, and
Brendan Roney.
The Panthers closed out CUSA action in 2024 with a conference record of 11-13, and as of now place sixth in the CUSA standings. In addition, FIU will make the CUSA tournament for the first time since 2018, which takes place on May 22-26 from Ruston, La.
FIU took an early 3-1 lead, before Sam Houston responded with a five-run sixth that secured them the road sweep.
After Sam Houston took a 1-0 lead in the first on a sacrifice fly, Kishon Frett put the Panthers up a run on a two-run shot for his team-leading 14th homer of the season. Frett closed the weekend out with six hits in the series against Sam Houston. FIU chipped a run in the fourth after Liquori came across, making it 3-1 to the fifth.
The Bearkats tacked on a score on a wild pitch in the fifth, before logging five runs on five hits in the sixth , closing out the frame with a 7-3 lead. FIU slowly rallied as Jeff Liquori hit his 10th home run of the season on a solo shot to right. Sam Houston got a run back in the seventh, before Hector Candelas hit his first career division one home run to left field, making it 8-5.
Yet, Sam Houston scored a run in the eighth and ninth to put the road team up by five, which was enough to earn the win. Ryne Guida posted a solo home run in the bottom half for his ninth of the year on senior day.
Joel Pineiro made his 13th start for the Panthers this season, allowing two earned runs over 4.2 innings on four hits with five strikeouts. Jaydon Bishop suffered the loss (0-2), allowing the eventual go-ahead runs in the sixth, giving up five earned runs in 1.1 innings. Freshman Evan Alwine allowed one earned run over two innings of relief with three strikeouts and Bryce Greene worked the ninth on one run.
Senior Liquori and Chase Engelhard each secured multi-hit efforts this afternoon, while seven players logged base hits (Candelas, Engelhard, Frett, Guida, Liquori, Martinez, and Roney).
UP NEXT
FIU prepares for the home finale against Miami on Tuesday, May 14 at 6 p.m. from FIU Baseball Stadium. It will be streamed on ESPN+.
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