MIAMI – The FIU baseball team mounted a four-run 11th inning to edge out Stonehill, 7-6, in an Opening Night showdown at FIU Baseball Stadium.
Trailing 6-3 in extras, the Panthers sparked a late comeback as senior Kishon Frett launched a three-run homer to even the score. Moments later, back-to-back singles and a fielder's choice loaded the bases for Austin Dearing, who was hit by a pitch to bring in the game-winning run.
The victory marks FIU's second consecutive Opening Day win and its fifth in the last six seasons.
"Opening Day is exciting—it feels like 20 games wrapped into one," said head coach Rich Witten. "There's a lot of adrenaline, a lot of excitement, and we settled down toward the end of the game. This was an exciting way to start the season."
FIU struck first in the third inning when Brylan West chopped an RBI double down the left-field line, scoring Samuel Fischer for a 1-0 lead.
Stonehill responded in the seventh as Taylor Gaspar belted a two-run homer, giving the Skyhawks a 2-1 edge. They extended their lead in the ninth with an RBI single, putting FIU in a two-run deficit heading into the bottom of the frame.
The Panthers responded with the bases loaded as Albert Serrano grounded to second base, forcing a play at shortstop. However, an errant throw allowed two runs to cross the plate, sending the game into extras.
In the 10th, Stonehill threatened with a runner on third, but Serrano made a highlight-reel over-the-shoulder catch to keep the game tied. The Skyhawks pushed ahead in the 11th with a bases-clearing double off the bat of Ryan LeClair, taking a 6-3 lead. FIU, however, had the final say, with Frett's game-tying blast setting the stage for Dearing's walk-off moment.
On the mound, FIU starter Logan Runde made his first Opening Day start, allowing just two hits across four strong innings while striking out four. David Eckaus tossed 2.2 innings, surrendering the go-ahead homer in the seventh but tallying five strikeouts. Graduate student Kevin Martin delivered 3.1 innings of relief, yielding just one run on four hits. Bryce Greene also saw action before Tracen Cameron took over in the 11th, earning the win.
Offensively, FIU found its rhythm late, with eight of its 11 hits coming from the ninth inning onward.
West led the charge with a three-hit night, including two doubles and an RBI. Serrano reached base five times, collecting two hits. Senior Hector Candelas contributed two singles, while Frett's game-changing homer brought in three crucial runs.
UP NEXT
FIU continues the season-opening series on Saturday against Stonehill. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.
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