MIAMI – The FIU baseball program capped off a dominant weekend with an 18-10 win over Merrimack on Sunday, completing a four-game sweep at FIU Baseball Stadium.
FIU (11-2) showcased an explosive offensive performance, tallying 18 runs on 12 hits while scoring in all eight innings to secure its second sweep of the season and third consecutive series win to open the 2025 campaign.
The Panthers' 11-2 start marks their best since 2014 and the strongest under third-year head coach
Rich Witten.
After Merrimack jumped to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning, FIU's bats came alive. The Panthers responded with a three-run second inning to take control.
Hector Candelas drove in the first run on a fielder's choice, followed by RBI plays from
Kareh Valentin and
Cole Cleveland.
Austin Dearing capped the frame with an RBI single to left-center, scoring
Alex Ulloa.
Dearing continued his production in the third with another RBI single, again scoring Ulloa for a 5-3 advantage. Cleveland added an RBI groundout in the fourth before junior
Enrique Alvarez Jr. launched a two-run homer to deep center field—his first as a Panther in his first start of the season.
The power surge continued in the fifth when
Kishon Frett blasted his fifth home run of the year, extending his home run streak to three straight games. Merrimack pushed across a run in the sixth, but FIU countered with a five-run frame, capitalizing on multiple walks and hit-by-pitches. Frett added an RBI infield single, stretching the lead to 14-6.
The Warriors fought back with a four-run seventh inning, cutting the deficit to 14-10. However, FIU responded with insurance runs, scoring twice in both the seventh and eighth innings before the game was called, sealing the 18-10 victory.
Frett led the offensive charge, recording his second four-hit game of the series, including a home run, triple, and two RBIs. The senior racked up 11 hits, six RBIs, and three home runs over the four-game series and has now totaled 17 hits in his last eight games, with five multi-hit performances during that span.
From the leadoff spot, Dearing contributed two RBIs on two hits and reached base four times. Ulloa also reached base five times, collecting two hits and two RBIs, while Alvarez Jr. reached safely in all five of his plate appearances.
FIU continued its trend of aggressive plate discipline, getting hit by eight pitches to bring its season total to 48—leading the nation in that category.
On the mound,
Owen Puk (1-0) delivered a career-high five innings, allowing five earned runs while striking out six. Julian Mlozdsinsk,
Tristan Dietrich, and
Logan Voelz saw action before
Juan Villarreal secured his first career save, striking out four in 1.2 innings. The junior from Panama now boasts 20 strikeouts over 12 innings this season.
UP NEXT
FIU prepare for a midweek contest at loanDepot Park to take on the Miami Hurricanes on Tuesday, March 4 at 7 p.m. Tickets are available on
Marlins.com/UMFIU.
BAPTIST HEALTH
Presented by Baptist Health, The Official Sports Medicine Provider of FIU Athletics
SOCIAL MEDIA
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