MIAMI - A seven-run third inning and a bad
break in the final inning enabled FIU to claim an 8-6 win and series victory
over the ULM baseball team Sunday afternoon at the FIU Baseball Stadium.
Brandon Alexander drew a pinch hit walk to
open the top half of the ninth inning before being put out at second on a
questionable ruling. It was determined
that the left fielder Jabari Henry trapped a Les Aulds line drive and Alexander
was put out at second base after he
thought the ball was caught, despite no clear ruling by the umpire. Consecutive hits by Joey Rapp and Taylor Abdalla
resulted in only one run scoring, bringing the Warhawks within one at 8-6. Closer Michael Gomez forced Caleb Clowers to
ground out to end the game.
Abdalla powered the ULM (14-14, 2-7 SBC)
offense with a 3-for-5 day at the plate, driving in three runs. Justin Stawychny, Jeremy Sy, Aulds and Rapp
each added two base hits apiece.
ULM struck for the first run in the top of
the second inning when Stawychny deposited a 2-2 offering from FIU starter R.J.
Fondon over the left field wall for his first career home run, giving the
Warhawks a 1-0 lead.
Mike Martinez smashed a double to the gap in
left center field off Andrew Richardson (0-3) to lead off the bottom of the
second inning. Richardson retired the
next three batters in succession, striking out Aramis Garcia swinging to keep
the Golden Panthers off the scoreboard.
Abdalla roped a two-run double into left
field in the top of the third, scoring Logan Fiasco from second base and Sy all
the way from first to push the Warhawk advantage to 3-0. Clowers fouled out to shortstop Julius Gaines
to end the frame.
FIU (14-13, 4-5 SBC) tied the game at 3-3 in
the bottom half of the third inning, as Nate Burns crushed a three-run home run
over the wall in right field off Richardson that scored Gaines and Iosmel Leon. Martinez drew a four-pitch walk to chase
Richardson from the contest and give the Golden Panthers runners on the corner
with one out. Reliever Shelby Aulds
walked the bases loaded on five pitches to Adam Kirsch before Henry touched him
up for a grand slam home run over the wall in right center field, giving FIU a
7-3 lead.
ULM responded with back-to-back home runs from
Sy and Rapp to lead off the top of the fifth inning, bringing the visitors
within two runs at 7-5. FIU reliever
John Caballero (2-0) retired the next three Warhawk hitters in succession.
Abdalla blistered a leadoff double down the
left field line to get the Warhawks in business in the top of the eighth
inning. FIU pitcher Eddy Pidermann
maintained his composure, forcing Corben Green to ground out 4-6 to hold
Abdalla at third base.
Henry led all batters with four RBIs for FIU,
while Burns chipped in three of his own on his third inning home run. Caballero threw two scoreless frames to pick
up the victory.
ULM returns to action Tuesday night when
Northwestern State travels to Warhawk Field for a 6 p.m. first pitch.
