NEWARK, Del. – FIU's baseball program dropped the series opener, 9-8, to the Delaware Blue Hens Friday evening at Bob Hannah Stadium in Conference USA (CUSA) action.
In the first meeting between the programs as conference opponents, FIU (15-30, 6-16 CUSA) built a 6-1 lead through four innings before Delaware answered with five runs in the bottom half to even the score and eventually pull away for the win.
FIU got the offense started in the second inning as, with two outs and runners on first and second,
Marc Hersh launched a three-run homer to left field, his first of the season, to give the Panthers a 3-0 lead.
The Panthers added on in the third when
Aidan Cohall delivered a two-run double to center field, marking his team-leading 16th double of the season and extending the lead to 5-0.
Delaware got on the board with an RBI single in the third, but FIU responded in the fourth as
Mario Trivella knocked in a run with an RBI single to make it 6-1.
The Blue Hens answered in a big way in the bottom of the fourth, plating five runs on an RBI single, bases-loaded walk, fielder's choice, and another RBI base hit to tie the game at 6-6.
Delaware took its first lead of the night in the sixth on a two-run homer and added an insurance run in the eighth with an RBI single to go up 9-6.
FIU made a late push in the ninth as
Samuel Fischer drove in
Andrew Ildefonso with an RBI triple to center, and Cohall followed with an RBI groundout to cut the deficit to one. However, Delaware held on to secure the series-opening victory.
On the mound,
Preston Prince made his ninth start of the season, allowing five earned runs over 3.2 innings with five strikeouts.
Tyrus Riley was charged with the loss after surrendering two earned runs across 3.1 innings, while
Bryce Turner worked the eighth.
Offensively, FIU recorded nine hits, highlighted by multi-hit performances from
Cole Cleveland and Trivella. Cleveland notched two singles, while Trivella extended his hitting streak to eight games, tallying 11 hits during that stretch. Cohall drove in three RBI and now has nine RBI over his last four games. Fischer reached base three times, including his RBI triple, while Ildefonso and
Cooper Rasmussen each added a hit.
UP NEXT
FIU prepares for game two on Saturday, May 2 facing Delaware. First pitch from Bob Hannah Stadium is set for 6:30 and streamed live on ESPN+.
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The 2026 FIU baseball season is presented by Baptist Health, The Official Sports Medicine Provider of FIU Athletics
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