DALLAS, Texas – The FIU baseball program fell just short in a hard-fought 10–9 loss to No. 20 Dallas Baptist on Friday night at Horner Ballpark to open a pivotal Conference USA series.
After trailing 7–2 entering the seventh inning, the Panthers (26–20, 9–9 CUSA) mounted a dramatic comeback with a seven-run outburst to take a 9–7 lead. However, the Patriots (31–13, 14–5 CUSA) responded with two runs in the bottom half to tie the game before scoring the go-ahead run in the eighth to secure the win.
Dallas Baptist struck early with a solo home run in the first inning, but FIU answered in the second when Kareh Valentin brought home Alex Ulloa on an RBI groundout. The Patriots added two more runs in the bottom of the frame with a pair of RBI doubles. FIU cut the deficit to 3–2 in the third on an infield RBI single from Andrew Ildefonso.
DBU extended its lead with two runs each in the fifth and sixth innings, making it 7–2. FIU responded in the seventh with a rally that began with an RBI single by Brylan West. Three more runs came in via a hit-by-pitch to Ulloa, a bases-loaded walk to Brendan Roney, and another hit-by-pitch to Hector Candelas, narrowing the deficit to one.
Freshman Cole Cleveland then delivered a clutch, three-run triple down the right field line to give FIU its first lead of the night at 9–7.
Dallas Baptist answered in the bottom of the seventh with a two-run double to tie the game and regained the lead in the eighth on a sacrifice fly. In the ninth, FIU threatened with the tying run on second and the go-ahead run at the plate with two outs, but DBU held on for the win.
On the mound, Easton Marks made his 12th start of the season, allowing two earned runs over 3.1 innings with one strikeout. Tracen Cameron pitched 1.2 innings of relief, striking out three and allowing two earned runs. Tristan Dietrich gave up two earned runs in 0.2 innings, while Bryce Turner made an appearance as well. Logan Runde pitched the seventh, allowing the game-tying runs, and Juan Villarreal worked the eighth and was tagged with the loss despite not allowing an earned run.
Offensively, FIU racked up 12 hits. Ulloa and West each notched three-hit games, marking their 19th multi-hit performances of the season. Javier Crespo reached base three times, including a single, while Austin Dearing and Kishon Frett each doubled. Cleveland recorded his second triple of the season, and both Ildefonso and Roney added singles.
UP NEXT
FIU prepares for game two of the series on Saturday, May 3. First pitch is set for 4:05 PM for Horner Ballpark and can be streamed on ESPN+.
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