MIAMI – FIU's baseball program closed out its home slate in dominant fashion, defeating Middle Tennessee, 10–2, on Sunday afternoon at FIU Baseball Stadium.
The Panthers (17–34, 8–19 CUSA) struck early with a three-run first inning and never relinquished control, securing the conference series victory and finishing the home schedule with 16 wins at FIU Baseball Stadium while keeping their Conference USA Championship hopes alive.
FIU wasted no time getting on the board. After a
Samuel Fischer infield single,
Mario Trivella launched a two-run home run to left field, his team-leading 13th of the season. A
Cooper Rasmussen hit-by-pitch and
Andrew Ildefonso single set the stage before
Enrique Alvarez Jr. delivered a run-scoring groundout to make it 3–0.
In the third inning, the Panthers extended the lead to 5–0.
Aidan Cohall added a run on a fielder's choice before
Caden Sammler singled through the middle to drive in another run.
Middle Tennessee responded with a solo home run in the fourth, but FIU quickly answered with a four-run frame. After
Cole Cleveland and Fischer were each hit by pitches, Ildefonso doubled down the left field line to plate two. Cohall followed with a two-run home run to left center, his third consecutive game with a homer, pushing the lead to 9–1.
Sammler added to the offensive outburst in the fifth with a solo home run to left field, marking back-to-back games with a long ball. Middle Tennessee added a run in the ninth, but FIU cruised to the 10–2 victory.
On the mound,
Jordan Vargas delivered a strong start, allowing one earned run over 4.1 innings while striking out six, both career highs for his first win of the 2026 season.
Cooper Foster added 1.1 scoreless innings in relief, while
Jeremy Urena closed the game, earning his first save of the season with 3.1 innings of one-run relief and five strikeouts.
Offensively, FIU totaled 10 hits, led by four multi-hit performances. Cohall finished 2-for-4 with a home run, double, and three RBI. Trivella went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer, while Ildefonso recorded his 16th multi-hit game of the season, finishing 2-for-4 with a double and hit-by-pitch. Sammler also went 2-for-4 with a home run and single.
Fischer reached base twice with a single and hit-by-pitch, Rasmussen reached three times via two walks and a hit-by-pitch, Cleveland reached base twice, and Alvarez Jr. contributed an RBI with a walk.
Prior to first pitch, FIU honored its 13 seniors for their contributions to the program:
Enrique Alvarez Jr.,
Matthew DelVecchio,
Vicente Feliciano,
Kyle Koehler,
Rene Lastres,
Tyler Mecchella,
Quin McManmon,
Julian Mlodzinski,
Preston Prince,
Aris Rivera,
Tyrus Riley,
Jeremy Urena, and
Jarek Woodward.
UP NEXT
FIU prepares for their final series of the season next weekend facing New Mexico State from Las Cruces from May 14 - 16 from Presley Askew Field.
TICKETS
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HERE.
BAPTIST HEALTH
The 2026 FIU baseball season is presented by Baptist Health, The Official Sports Medicine Provider of FIU Athletics
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