By Brett Shweky/Editor
Despite a potential late-game comeback, the FIU Panthers fell 10-8 to the Miami Hurricanes to wrap up their midweek crosstown showdown on Wednesday at the FIU Baseball Stadium.
The Panthers (3-4), after going down 10-2 in the seventh, orchestrated a come from behind effort with the team managing to score six unanswered runs.
With the loss, FIU drops their first game against their intercity rival since the 2017 season.
Catcher Javier Valdes fueled the surge for FIU as he went three-for-four at the plate while bringing in four RBI, two runs and one home run.
Along with Valdes’ dinger in the fourth, third baseman Austin Shenton also collected a round-tripper for the Panthers in the third while pinch-hitter Seth Cannady hit another in seventh.
During the third inning, Miami (6-2) built a 4-0 lead on FIU before Shenton’s homer put the first run of the night on the board for Panthers in the bottom half of the frame.
Miami increased its advantage to 10-2 as they tacked on three security runs in the fourth inning, one in the sixth and two in the seventh.
Valdes began the Panthers’ scoring run in the seventh by doubling down the right field to score left fielder Lorenzo Hampton Jr. and Shenton. Cannady’s two-run shot later in the frame would bring Miami’s lead to 10-6.
In the bottom of the ninth, Valdes and Cannady continued their success by bringing an additional two scores.
Pinch-hitter Jarrett Ford would score for the Panthers on an RBI single by Valdes, while Cannady delivered a sacrifice fly to score Hampton Jr.
Following Hampton’s score, Miami’s closer Daniel Federman would put an end to FIU’s hopes with him striking out shortstop John Rodriguez and causing first baseman Logan Allen to fly out.
FIU starter Franco Aleman (0-1) picks up the loss for the Panthers after allowing four hits and four runs in 2.1 innings. Hurricanes right-hander Tyler Keysor (1-0) earns the win following his 2.2 innings of action.
The Panthers and the Hurricanes will square off one more time this season with Miami hosting FIU on Wednesday, April 24 in Coral Gables.
Next, on the schedule for the Panthers, the team will hit the road for a three-game weekend series against the Jacksonville Gamecocks. Friday’s opening pitch is set for 7 p.m.
