CORAL GABLES, Fla. – FIU's baseball program dropped a 9-7 decision to Miami on Tuesday evening at Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field.
 
Miami struck first in the second inning, as Brylan West launched a two-run home run to give the Hurricanes an early 2-0 lead.
 
In the fourth, FIU (10-23) cut the deficit in half when Cole Cleveland blasted a solo home run to right-center field, his third of the season, making it 2-1.
 
The Hurricanes responded in the bottom half of the inning, plating four runs behind an RBI walk, RBI single, and a two-run homer to extend the lead to 7-1.
 
FIU answered in the sixth, as Samuel Fischer delivered a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Andrew Ildefonso, trimming the deficit to 7-2. However, Miami added two more runs in the seventh on a two-run homer to cap the scoring at 9-2. 

In the ninth, Cooper Rasmussen delivered with a two-run homer for his eighth of the season, making it a 9-4 score. FIU loaded the bases as a Aidan Cohall RBI walk and a Mario Trivella two-run single to center made it 9-7 but wasn't enough as the Hurricanes earned the win.
 
On the mound, Rene Lastres made his first career start, allowing two earned runs over two innings. Matthew DelVecchio followed with 1.2 innings, surrendering four earned runs, while Jeremy Urena allowed one earned run in 1.1 innings. Freshman Brennan Confreda contributed two innings of relief with one strikeout, and Tyler Mecchella tossed a scoreless eighth inning.
 
Offensively, FIU recorded seven hits, with Ildefonso leading the way with a two-hit performance, including a double, for his eighth multi-hit game of the season. Cleveland reached base three times via his home run, single and a walk, while Enrique Alvarez Jr. also reached twice with two walks. Cooper Rasmussen extended his on-base streak to 18 games with a two-hit effort.

UP NEXT
FIU hosts Kennesaw State from April 10 - April 12 at FIU Baseball Stadium.

TICKETS
For more information on FIU tickets to FIU home games, including student ticketing, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit HERE. 

BAPTIST HEALTH
The 2026 FIU baseball season is presented by Baptist Health, The Official Sports Medicine Provider of FIU Athletics

SOCIAL MEDIA
Get all the latest information on the team by following @FIUBaseball on Facebook and @FIUBaseball on X and @FIU.Baseball on Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUAthletics on X and Instagram.