DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The FIU baseball team cruised to a commanding 9-1 victory over Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday afternoon at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
The Panthers (17-9) jumped out to an early 7-0 lead after four innings, setting the tone for a dominant performance at the plate and on the mound. FIU's offense racked up 13 hits, while its pitching staff held the Wildcats to just one run over nine innings.
With 26 games played, FIU boasts its best start to a season since 2014 and its best under third-year head coach
Rich Witten.
Andrew Ildefonso opened the scoring in the first inning with an RBI single to left field. The Panthers added three more runs in the second, highlighted by a two-run double from
Alex Ulloa into left-center. A wild pitch allowed Ulloa to score, extending the lead to 4-0.
FIU continued to apply pressure in the third inning, as
Samuel Fischer delivered an RBI single and Ulloa followed with an RBI hit to right field, making it 6-0.
Hector Candelas added to the offensive surge with an RBI single to left-center.
On the mound,
Owen Puk silenced Bethune-Cookman's lineup, tossing four scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and striking out a season-high six batters to earn his second win of the season.
The Panthers tacked on two more runs in the sixth inning, capitalizing on a Bethune-Cookman error and a wild pitch to extend their lead to 9-0. The Wildcats managed to scratch across a run in the eighth, but it wasn't enough to threaten FIU's dominant outing.
FIU's bullpen was equally effective, with
Jaydon Bishop tossing two scoreless frames,
Toby Haarer working a clean seventh inning, and
Tristan Dietrich and
Shane Tucker each making appearances. Freshman
Bryce Turner added with a scoreless frame.
Five Panthers recorded multi-hit performances, led by Candelas' three-hit game—his second of the season. Ulloa added two hits from the leadoff spot, marking his third multi-hit game in his last four outings. Ildefonso extended his hitting streak to six games and has now driven in eight runs over his last four contests.
Kishon Frett and
Austin Dearing also contributed with two hits each.
UP NEXT
FIU prepares for their first CUSA road series of the season, heading to Murfreesboro, Tenn. to take on the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders. First pitch on Friday, March 28 is set for 7 p.m. ET and can be streamed on ESPN+.
BAPTIST HEALTH
Presented by Baptist Health, The Official Sports Medicine Provider of FIU Athletics
SOCIAL MEDIA
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