Pitching staff takes control to take game 3 versus No. 25 Tennessee

Alejandro Aguirre/Asst. Sports Director

On Sunday February 15, the baseball team won its first home series against the University of Tennessee.  Sunday’s game was the tiebreaker for the series win and FIU took game three thanks to the strong effort of the pitching staff. Four FIU pitchers were able to pitch a combined four- hit shutout. The starting job for the Panthers in the game was sophomore Chris Mourelle who received the win in the deciding game of the series, 3-0.

With the win, it gave Mourelle his first victory of the season and displayed why he was Conference USA freshman of the year. He threw five innings without letting a run score and allowing just one hit. The other three FIU pitchers that backed up Mourelle’s excellent performance were Ian Exposito, Gianni Zayas and Danny Dopico . Exposito and Zayas only gave up one hit in their relief appearances.  Dopicio followed up his excellent Friday night performance by getting his first career save.

Other FIU players contributed to the win especially on the defensive end. Shortstop Julius Gaines had a number of great plays in the middle infield.  With the bat, FIU scored three runs on five hits. Senior Brian Portelli lead the offense with two doubles, a walk and a run scored. The scoring for the Panthers started with a double by sophomore JC Escarra in the bottom of the second. The second run they scored occurred in the bottom of the fourth when junior Brandon Cody drew bases-loaded walk.  FIU made the score 3-0 in the bottom of the seventh as Gaines sacrifice fly to left field brought in freshman Eddie Silva .

This is the fourth time, dating back to 2012, that the Panthers won their first home opening series. The Panthers will begin a five-game road trip traveling to DeLand, Florida to take on the Stetson Hatters on Wednesday, Feb. 18.

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