MIAMI, Fla.?Florida International used an eight-run fifth inning to push past the Sun Belt leading ULM Warhawks 17-10 Sunday afternoon at University Park in the rubber game of the three-game series.
The Golden Panthers (16-30, 8-13 Sun Belt) become the first Sun Belt school to take a series from ULM (29-14, 18-6) through the first eight weeks of the conference schedule.
The Warhawks took a 7-6 lead in the top half of the fifth inning on the strength of three solo home runs by Kyle Suire, A.J. Siggers and Matt Collins.
Florida International sent 11 batters to the plate in their half of the fifth inning and Ryan Mollica provided the knockout blow with a grand slam over the wall in right field. The FIU second baseman finished the game 5-for-6 with five RBIs after seeing his 27-game hit streak come to an end yesterday.
Collins finished the game 4-for-5 with three RBIs to lead the Warhawks from the plate while Suire, Siggers and Ryan McMillan all added a pair of hits.
James Lajjiness (4-0) picked up the win for the Golden Panthers tossing four innings of relief allowing six runs ? five earned ? on seven hits. Derek Ward (5-2) took the loss for ULM lasting just one-third of an inning allowing six runs on five hits.
ULM returns home on Tuesday night for a non-conference tilt against Northwestern State at 6:30 p.m. on Military Night at Warhawk Field. The Warhawks will wear camouflage jerseys during the game and auction them off to fans following the contest.
