RUSTON, La – The FIU baseball program powered their way with four home runs Wednesday morning to take down three-seeded Western Kentucky in the first round of the 2024 CUSA Championship.
FIU advances on to the winner's bracket and will face the winner of New Mexico State/Dallas Baptist on Thursday, May 23 at 1:30 p.m..
The opening round win marks the first victory in Conference USA tournament play since 2016 in a 3-1 victory over Old Dominion in extra innings.
"It was a real good baseball game, and love seeing how our team responded," head coach
Rich Witten. "I think it starts by working in the strike zone, and our guys made some big pitches when it mattered the most."
The Panther power was on display as
Kishon Frett led the charge with a pair of home runs, while
Brylan West and
Armando Becerra helped pad the FIU lead in the win.
"I felt great, I finally feel I am in rhythm and having a few days off, getting my swing back," said Frett. "Today was big, if we win tomorrow it will be a big advantage."
Western Kentucky struck first in the third inning as a runner scored on a wild pitcher before a second run came across on a double steal attempt. FIU responded in the fourth with a Frett two-run blast out to deep left centerfield tying up the game at two.
The Hilltoppers took the lead back in the fifth on a RBI groundout and a RBI single, stretching their lead to 4-2. An FIU response came in the seventh with a Frett solo homer, his 16
th of season. Later in the frame and a runner on, West ripped a two-run home run to push the Panther sfor their first lead of the morning.
For insurance in the ninth, Becerra fought off a long at-bat finishing with a two-run homer, making it 7-4. Cam Knox surrendered a run yet held on to close out the morning for a first round win.
Logan Runde made the start for FIU to open postseason play, working 3.2 innings on two earned runs with three strikeouts. In the middle frames, lefty
Zac Lampton (4-0) gave up two earned runs in three innings, before Knox was handed the ball in the final 2.1 innings for the save.
Offensively, Frett and
Andre Martinez each posted three-hit games, making it their second of their respective seasons. In addition, it marked Frett's first career-multi home run game. Eight out of the nine Panthers in the lineup mustered hits on the morning.
UP NEXT
FIU takes on the winner of New Mexico State/DBU on Thursday, May 23 at 1:30 p.m. It can be streamed on ESPN+.
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