MIAMI – FIU's baseball program completed a Conference USA (CUSA) series sweep Sunday afternoon, defeating Kennesaw State, 7-1, at FIU Baseball Stadium.
 
After surrendering an early run in the second inning, FIU (13-23, 5-10 CUSA) responded with seven unanswered runs from the third through the seventh to secure its first series sweep of the season. The Panthers' pitching staff also delivered a dominant performance, limiting the Owls to just one run on six hits.
 
Kennesaw State struck first with a run in the second, but FIU answered in the third. With Tracen Cameron aboard, Cole Cleveland delivered an RBI single up the middle to tie the game. Samuel Fischer followed with an RBI double to right field, giving the Panthers a 2-1 advantage.
 
FIU extended its lead in the fifth, adding two runs on a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded drawn by Fischer and an RBI from Caden Sammler to make it 4-1.
 
In the sixth, after Cooper Rasmussen was hit by a pitch, Andrew Ildefonso launched a two-run home run to left field, his fifth of the season and second of the series, pushing the lead to 6-1 while extending his hitting streak to eight games.
 
Rasmussen capped the scoring in the seventh with an RBI single to right field, bringing the final margin to 7-1.
 
On the mound, Julian Mlodzinski earned his third win of the season, allowing one earned run over five innings while striking out three. Tyrus Riley was dominant in relief, tossing four scoreless innings with three strikeouts to secure his second save of the season.
 
Offensively, FIU recorded 10 hits, led by Rasmussen's three-hit performance as he extended his on-base streak to 21 games. Cleveland reached base three times with two hits, continuing his strong stretch at the plate. Fischer added two RBI, while Enrique Alvarez Jr., Cameron, and Sammler each contributed base hits. Ildefonso finished with a home run and a walk in the victory.

UP NEXT
FIU heads to Jacksonville, Alabama to face the Jacksonville State Gamecocks from April 17-19 from Rudy Abbott Field.

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