MIAMI – The FIU baseball team continued its scorching start to the season, defeating Delaware 7-4 on Saturday night at FIU Baseball Stadium.
With the win, FIU improves to a perfect 7-0, matching the program's best start since 2020 and marking the strongest opening under third-year head coach Rich Witten.
The Panthers relied on efficient pitching and small-ball tactics through the first seven innings before breaking out with three combined home runs in the seventh and eighth to secure the victory.
FIU struck early, taking a 2-0 lead in the second inning. After loading the bases, Kareh Valentin grounded out to shortstop to bring home Samuel Fischer, followed by Kishon Frett's sacrifice fly to left, plating Brendan Roney.
Starting pitcher Easton Marks set the tone on the mound, tying his career-high with nine strikeouts while allowing just one hit and no earned runs over 3.2 innings. Jaydon Bishop took over for 2.1 innings, shutting down Delaware's offense with five strikeouts and no hits allowed.
The Blue Hens finally broke through in the seventh with a game-tying two-run homer by Aaron Graeber. However, FIU wasted no time responding. In the bottom half, Frett launched a laser to left field for his second home run of the season, putting the Panthers back on top, 3-2.
FIU kept the momentum rolling with a four-run explosion in the eighth. Andrew Ildefonso belted his first career home run, a two-run shot, before Valentin followed with a deep drive into the Miami night for back-to-back homers. Moments later, freshman Cole Cleveland added an RBI single to extend the lead to 7-2.
Delaware answered with another two-run homer in the ninth, but the comeback bid fell short as FIU closed out the 7-4 victory.
Kevin Martin (1-0) earned the win in relief, pitching three innings while allowing four earned runs on three hits and striking out four.
Offensively, Frett led the Panthers with two hits, including a solo homer. Ildefonso, making his first career start, also collected two hits, while Fischer, Ulloa, and Valentin contributed to the hit column.
UP NEXT
FIU looks for the series sweep on Sunday, Feb. 23 at noon. It will be streamed live on ESPN+.
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