Miami – Stetson used it's Miami connection to power its way past FIU 8-5 Tuesday night.
Freshman
Danny Garcia (2-0) worked 2.1 no-hit innings in relief of starter
Chris Gonzalez before turning the ball over to
Vlad Nunez for the final three frames. Nunez blanked the Panthers on one hit while striking out three to earn his third save of the year.
Stetson improved to 7-9 on the year with the win while dropping FIU to 9-7,
The Hatters jumped on top in the first inning, taking advantage of a bout of wildness from FIU starter Franco Aleman (0-2) to score three runs. Aleman walked two and hit one in the inning and Stetson got help from a Panthers error before
Eric Foggo delivered a two-run single for a 3-0 lead.
FIU got on the board in the second when Jose Garcia led off the inning with a solo home run to left.
Stetson grew its lead to 5-1 in the third inning off FIU reliever Angel Tiburcio.
Mark Townsend and
Jacob Koos had singles, the Panthers had an error and then Stetson scored when Foggo was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded and then when
Danny Martin drew a walk.
FIU came back with another single run in the third inning, taking advantage of an error by Foggo at third to score.
Stetson pushed across three more runs in the fourth inning despite getting just one hit. Two hit batters and a walk loaded the bases for Stetson.
Baylen Sparks drove in a run with a single to left and then the Hatters scored a run on an error and another on a double-play ground ball.
FIU came right back in the bottom of the inning to chase Stetson starter
Chris Gonzalez, getting a three-run homer from John Rodriguez to cut the Hatters' lead to 8-5.
That was it for the Panthers as Garcia and Nunez combined to strikeout nine over the final 5.1 innings.
Stetson managed just five hits in the game off a total of seven FIU pitchers but the Panthers walked five batters, hit four more and committed three errors.
The Hatters will return to action back at Melching Field on Friday night when they open a three-game series against Yale. Game time on Friday and Saturday is set for 6:30 p.m. with a 1 p.m. first pitch scheduled for Sunday.
About Stetson University Athletics: Stetson University's Athletics Program has a vision of developing a culture of champions athletically, academically and within the community. This vision is accomplished through a mission of recruiting and developing student-athletes, coaches and staff, creating a culture of champions, within and outside of competition. The department operates with five core values: Championship Culture, Integrity, Excellence, Pride/Tradition and Leadership. To learn more about the Vision, Mission and Core Values for Stetson Athletics, visit GoHatters.com and click on Mission Statement under the Inside Athletics tab.
