MIAMI – The FIU baseball program powered its way to a doubleheader sweep on Saturday, dominating Merrimack with a 14-4 run-rule victory in game one before securing a dramatic 7-6 walk-off win in game two at FIU Baseball Stadium.
 
The Panthers (10-2) are off to their best start through 12 games since 2014 and their strongest under third-year head coach Rich Witten. The team's offense exploded for 21 runs on 22 hits, highlighted by five home runs across both games.
 
Kishon Frett led the charge with a home run in each game, finishing the day with five hits, four RBIs, and two homers. Through three games in the series, Frett has racked up seven hits. Austin Dearing put on a power display in game two with a multi-homer performance, while Hector Candelas stayed hot, blasting a solo shot and tallying six hits, two homers, and six RBIs in the series.

Game One
Merrimack took an early lead with a solo home run in the top of the first, but FIU quickly took control, scoring in five consecutive innings from the fourth to the eighth to secure a dominant run-rule victory.

Hector Candelas got things started with an RBI groundout that brought home Cole Cleveland, followed by Nelson Rivera Flores ripping an RBI double into deep right-center field. Alex Ulloa then added to the three-run fourth inning with a single into shallow left-center.
 
FIU's power came alive in the fifth when Frett crushed a two-run homer, his first of the day, while Candelas continued his offensive production with an RBI double. The Panthers tacked on more runs in the sixth as Cleveland roped a two-run double down the left-field line to extend the lead to 8-3.
 
FIU added insurance in the late innings, bringing home two runs in the seventh on a wild pitch and RBI groundout before sealing the victory in the eighth on a sacrifice fly and a Merrimack fielding error.

The Panthers exploded for 15 hits, with five players recording multi-hit performances. Frett led the way with his first four-hit game of the season, including a home run and two RBIs. Candelas finished with three RBIs on two hits, while Rivera Flores recorded his first multi-hit game of the year. Cleveland and Ulloa also contributed key hits.
 
On the mound, Easton Marks (2-0) picked up the win, pitching a season-high five innings with six strikeouts while allowing just two earned runs. Jaydon Bishop provided two innings of relief, giving up one run and striking out two, before Julian Mlodzinski closed it out in the eighth with one strikeout and a single run allowed.

Game Two
FIU carried its offensive momentum into game two, jumping out to a 3-0 lead through three innings. Candelas put the Panthers on the board with a solo home run in the second inning, and Frett followed up in the third with his second two-run homer of the day, launching a shot to left-center field. Merrimack responded in the fourth with a two-run homer of its own, cutting the deficit to 3-2.

The Panthers extended their lead in the fifth when Dearing smashed his second home run of the season, an opposite-field two-run blast that made it a 5-2 ballgame. Merrimack refused to go away, scoring two more runs in the sixth to make it a one-run game. Dearing came through again in the seventh, crushing his second home run of the night to right-center, marking his first career multi-homer game and giving FIU a crucial insurance run.

Merrimack fought back in the ninth, tying the game on a two-run double and forcing extra innings. The Panthers, however, wasted no time securing the victory. After Frett drew a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch, Albert Serrano delivered the game-winning RBI single to left, sealing the doubleheader sweep in dramatic fashion.

FIU finished with seven hits in game two, four of which were home runs courtesy of Candelas, Dearing (twice), and Frett.

Jarek Woodward made his second start of the season, striking out a season-high seven batters over four innings while allowing two earned runs. Bryce Turner entered in the fifth, while Andrew Ildefonso provided two shutout innings without allowing a hit. Tracen Cameron struck out three over two innings, and Toby Haarer (1-0) earned his first win as a Panther after pitching a scoreless tenth inning with a strikeout.

Postgame Notes
- Brylan West extended his on-base streak to 15 games, collecting hits in both games.
- Kishon Frett has 13 hits, seven RBIs, three home runs, two doubles, and a triple during his seven-game hitting streak, including five multi-hit performances.
- Hector Candelas has recorded eight hits in his last four games, with three multi-hit outings.
- FIU's pitching staff struck out 20 batters across the two games, including 11 in game two.

UP NEXT
FIU closes out the weekend series on Sunday, March 2 at noon from FIU Baseball Stadium. It will be streamed live on ESPN+.

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