MIAMI – The FIU baseball program launched four home runs on Sunday afternoon, but it wasn't enough as the Panthers dropped the series finale to Florida Atlantic, 6-4 from FIU Baseball Stadium.
All of FIU's (12-5) runs came via the long ball, with Brylan West leading the way with a multi-homer performance, while Kishon Frett and Andrew Ildefonso also went deep.
Florida Atlantic (12-4) struck first with a two-out RBI single off Jake Millan. Frett quickly responded in the bottom half of the inning, blasting his sixth home run of the season with a solo shot to right field.
The Owls extended their lead in the fourth with a two-run double down the left field line before adding solo home runs in the fifth and sixth innings to go up 5-1.
FIU cut into the deficit in the sixth when West crushed a line-drive home run. Ildefonso followed in the seventh with a solo shot to dead center—his second homer of the year—bringing the Panthers within two at 5-3.
Florida Atlantic added an insurance run in the eighth on a pinch-hit RBI single from Patrick Ward. West answered in the bottom half with his second home run of the game, a deep shot to left field. The senior's big day marked the third multi-home run game of his career, bringing his season total to four.
On the mound, Logan Runde took the loss after allowing four earned runs over five innings. Kevin Martin provided three innings of relief, surrendering two runs, while Jarek Woodward pitched a scoreless ninth.
West was the only Panther to record multiple hits in the game.
UP NEXT
FIU host Florida Gulf Coast on Tuesday, March 11 for midweek action at FIU Baseball Stadium. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. and can be streamed on ESPN+.
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