MIAMI – FIU's baseball program fell 9-8 to FGCU Wednesday evening at FIU Baseball Stadium in the Panthers' final midweek contest of the season.
In a back-and-forth affair that featured five lead changes, FIU (15-33) battled until the final inning but came up just short against the Eagles.
FGCU struck first in the opening inning, but the Panthers answered immediately. After walks from Samuel Fischer and Cooper Rasmussen, Andrew Ildefonso launched a three-run homer to deep left-center field for his sixth home run of the season, giving FIU a 3-1 lead.
The Eagles responded with three runs in the second inning, using a groundout and a two-run homer to regain a 4-3 advantage. FIU answered in the bottom half as, with Marc Hersh aboard, Fischer lined an RBI single down the right-field line to even the contest at 4-4.
In the third, a failed pickoff attempt allowed Ildefonso to score from third and give the Panthers a 5-4 lead. FGCU answered once again with a solo homer to tie the game at 5-5.
The Eagles pulled ahead with two runs in the fifth before adding a sacrifice fly in the sixth and a solo homer in the seventh to build a 9-5 advantage.
FIU made one final push in the ninth. Following a Cole Cleveland double and a Trey Freeman walk, Fischer blasted a three-run homer to straightaway center field, marking his second consecutive game with a home run and cutting the deficit to one. FGCU got the last out to earn the midweek win.
On the mound, FIU used nine pitchers, with Matthew DelVecchio making his first start of the season and allowing one earned run over one inning. Jarek Woodward surrendered three earned runs, while Brennan Confreda tossed 1.1 innings with two strikeouts. Quin McManmon, Cooper Foster, Rene Lastres, Mason Koczwara, and Bryce Turner also saw action in relief.
Offensively, FIU totaled nine hits, led by multi-hit efforts from Fischer, Hersh, and Ildefonso. Fischer reached base three times with a single, homer, and walk. Cleveland added a double, while Rasmussen reached base via walk.
UP NEXT
FIU hosts MTSU for their final home weekend series of the season from May 8 - May 10. It will be streamed live on ESPN+ at FIU Baseball Stadium.
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