LYNCHBURG, Va. – The FIU baseball program split their Friday doubleheader matchup at Liberty, taking game one in a 10-7 victory, before dropping the game two nightcap in a 11-5 decision.
 
With the pair of games, FIU sits at 24-21 including an overall conference mark of 11-9 in CUSA action.
 
The Panthers rolled in game one, logging 13 hits as Ryne Guida had a solid day at the dish in both games with a combined four hits on seven RBI including an homer. The senior has now extended his on-base streak to 30 games, the longest on-base streak for any Panther this season.
 
GAME ONE RECAP
Out of the gates, the FIU offense got to work, plating a pair of runs early, beginning with a RBI single off the bat of Guida, before Jeff Liquori brought home a run on a groundout.
 
After Liberty cut the deficit to one in the second, FIU tagged onto their lead with Guida's second RBI single of the afternoon, plating Nick Pitelli in the third.
 
The flood gates opened in the sixth as FIU poured on six-runs in the inning on just three hits. Roylan Quevedo got the scoring started in the inning on a RBI walk before Pitelli singled in the infield to score Chase Engelhard. The senior Pitelli had a two-hit game including a double. Brylan West hit a sacrifice fly that brought around Dearing. Armando Becerra hit a RBI single to left center, making it a 7-1 ballgame. Becerra, who had nine hits, including a cycle in his past road series went 4-for-4 in game one including getting on-base in all five appearances. Liquori closed out the inning with a two-run single right down the first base line, closing it to a 9-1 score.
 
The Flames slowly charged back with a run in the sixth including runs in the eighth and ninth, eventually losing just by three runs. Guida added insurance in the eighth on his third RBI single to score West.
 
Cameron Knox made his 11^th start of the season, allowing only an earned run over 4.1 innings on three strikeouts. Knox has allowed just three earned runs over his past three starts (12.1 innings total).
 
Zac Lampton worked after Knox, eventually earning the win (3-0), going 2.2 innings on just two hits and one earned run. Kevin Martin closed the final 1.2 innings to help earn the game one road victory.
 
GAME TWO RECAP
In game two, FIU jumped out to an early lead once again, scoring their first run in the first as Guida hit a groundball to second that scored West. In the third, Guida launched a three-run homer out to deep left centerfield for his seventh homer of the season, extending the lead to 4-0.
 
The Flames stormed back scoring nine runs combined in third and fourth innings, including an eight-run fourth to post a 9-4 lead. Becerra made it a 9-5 ballgame in the sixth on a RBI groundout, yet wasn't enough to mount a comeback.
 
Liberty scored in the sixth and seventh to earn the 11-5 win, tying the series.
 
Joel Pineiro (2-2) suffered the loss for FIU, giving uo six earned runs in 3.1 innings and punched out four batters.
 
Jackson Ritchey and Evan Alwine worked relief, allowing three earned runs combined in 4.2 innings.
 
Brylan West had a two-hit performance, while getting on base a total of four times.

UP NEXT
FIU closes out the series tomorrow on Saturday, May 4 at 4 p.m. from Lynchburg, Va. It can be streamed on ESPN+.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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