FIU’s baseball team defeated Louisiana Tech 7-4 on April 2 to open a three-game Conference USA series at FIU Baseball Stadium.
The win marks the Panthers’ second conference victory of the season. After trailing 4-2, FIU scored four runs in the seventh inning, highlighted by Samuel Fischer’s two-run double down the left field line that gave them a lead they would not relinquish.
Andrew Ildefonso started the game with his third home run of the season, putting FIU ahead early. Louisiana Tech tied it in the third inning, but Fischer responded with an RBI single to restore FIU’s advantage. The Bulldogs regained momentum in the fifth and seventh innings, eventually leading 4-2 before FIU rallied late.
Marc Hersh led off FIU’s seventh-inning comeback with a double, followed by Trey Freeman’s RBI single and Cole Cleveland’s hit that kept runners on base for Fischer’s go-ahead double. Mario Trivella added another run with an RBI single. Cooper Rasmussen contributed an insurance run in the eighth inning with an RBI single.
Pitcher Preston Prince matched his career high by pitching five innings and striking out six batters. Tyrus Riley earned his second win of the year after throwing four innings of relief and recording five strikeouts while allowing two earned runs.
FIU finished with 11 hits from multiple players: Ildefonso had two hits; Fischer recorded two hits and three RBIs; Aidan Cohall added two hits including his team-leading fifteenth double; Rasmussen extended his on-base streak to fifteen games; Hersh reached base twice; Cleveland also contributed offensively.
