MIAMI – A rough start in the first inning caused Louisiana Tech to fall, 8-3, on the road in the series final against FIU on Saturday afternoon at FIU Baseball Stadium.
LA Tech (22-8, CUSA 4-2) could not overcome the early four-run deficit to FIU (15-13, CUSA 6-3), costing them a series loss.
The Panthers came out strong on offensive and defense, holding the Bulldogs to three runs, which was the second-lowest total this season. Meanwhile, the Panthers struck for four runs in the first inning thanks to a single down the left field line by Ryne Guida and a three-run homer by Alex Ulloa.
Starting pitcher Turner Swistak (4-1) settled down after that, pitching three straight shutout innings. However, the Bulldogs were unable to put runs on the board to slice into the deficit.
FIU extended its lead to 5-0 after an RBI single from Brendan Roney in the sixth. LA Tech got on the scoreboard for the first time in the top of the seventh following a Will Safford (2-for-2, 2 RBI, 2B, HR) RBI double to right field which brought Grant Comeaux (2-for-4) home to make it a 5-1 game.
However, FIU brought in three more runs in the bottom half of the inning, putting the game further out of reach with an 8-1 lead. LA Tech kept fighting though, adding two more runs to the game after Ethan Bates earned an RBI with his single to left and Safford crushing a ball over the right-field fence in the top of the ninth inning. But that would be all the road team.
FIU starter Ryan Cabarcas picked up the win, throwing four innings of shutout baseball.
UP NEXT
Tech will be at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park on Tuesday to face Little Rock. The first pitch to Tuesday’s game will be at 6 PM on ESPN+.
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