MIAMI – The FIU baseball program overcame a three-run deficit to claim a 6-3 win over Jacksonville State in its Conference USA (CUSA) opener Friday night at FIU Baseball Stadium.
Trailing 3-0 entering the sixth inning, the Panthers (15-8 1-0 CUSA) surged ahead, scoring six unanswered runs from the sixth to the eighth to secure their first conference victory of the season. A throwing error in the seventh allowed
Alex Ulloa to score the go-ahead run, proving to be the decisive moment in the comeback.
Jacksonville State (14-8 0-1 CUSA) took an early lead, capitalizing on a wild pitch and an RBI double in the fourth before adding another run on a fielder's choice in the fifth.
FIU responded in the sixth when
Andrew Ildefonso delivered a clutch two-run triple into the right-center field gap, plating
Brylan West and
Kishon Frett. Moments later,
Javier Crespo laced a single through the right side, bringing home Ildefonso to tie the game at 3-3.
The Panthers took the lead in the seventh as Ulloa led off with a double to left and later crossed the plate on a Jacksonville State throwing error.
FIU added insurance in the eighth when Ulloa lined an RBI single to right field, driving in
Cole Cleveland and
Albert Serrano to extend the lead to 6-3.
On the mound,
Juan Villarreal was dominant in relief, shutting down the Gamecocks over the final three innings with five strikeouts to earn his fifth win of the season.
Starter
Easton Marks made his sixth appearance of the year, striking out seven over five innings while allowing two earned runs on five hits.
Jaydon Bishop followed with a scoreless sixth inning, fanning two before handing the ball to Villarreal to close it out.
At the plate, Ulloa led the way with a two-hit, two-RBI performance, including a double. Ildefonso reached base three times, notching his first career triple, while Crespo and Serrano added base hits in the victory.
UP NEXT
FIU continues the weekend series on Saturday, March 22 at 5 p.m. It will be streamed live on ESPN+ from FIU Baseball Stadium.
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