By Brett Shweky/Editor
After suffering two losses to begin the season, the FIU Panthers finally picked up their first victory of 2019 by dominating Stony Brook 13-2 on Sunday, Feb. 17 at the FIU Baseball Stadium.
The Panthers (1-2) scored seven runs in the second inning, and six runs in the eighth to avoid being swept by the Seawolves (2-1) in their three-game series.
Second baseman Derek Cartaya and left fielder Lorenzo Hampton Jr. paced the FIU’s bats as they both recorded three hits in their five at-bats as well as two RBI.
Right fielder Juan Teixeira, who had success in the previous game, scored the first run of the contest for the Panthers with a grounder which scored designated hitter Seth Cannady from third base.
Catcher Javier Valdes followed up Teixeira’s opening run by sending a double to left center to bring Hampton Jr. home to make the score 2-0.
Following a John Rodriguez walk, centerfielder Jarrett Ford increased the Panthers’ lead by two runs as he hit a double allowing Rodriguez and Valdes to score.
Ford, who reached third base on his double, reached home the next at-bat by Cartaya singling through the left side.
Third baseman Austin Shenton closed out the 7-0 second inning scoring stretch with an inside-the-park home run which allowed him and Cartaya to score.
Stony Brook’s two runs came on an FIU error in the fifth inning but would be the only scoring play the Seawolves would have for the contest.
The Panthers added six security runs in the eighth by having pinch-runner Rhett Rutledge, Kobe Lopez, Shenton, Cartaya, Jose Garcia and Hampton Jr. score.
Ford finished the game with three RBI, two hits and one run while Shenton ended with two RBI, two hits and two runs.
Starter and right-hander Christian Santana lasted 4.1 innings for FIU and only gave up four hits and two runs.
Right-hander Daniel Brown earned the victory for the Panthers after he came in for Santana and pitched a scoreless and two thirds. During his short stint at the mound, he struck out three batters and only gave up one hit.
Stony Brook had six pitchers appear in the matchup with starter Jared Milch picking up the loss.
FIU will return to the diamond on Tuesday, Feb. 19 as they host Bethune-Cookman for midweek action at the FIU Baseball stadium. Opening pitch is at 7 p.m.
