Brett Shweky // Staff Writer
FIU’s pitching struggled Sunday as the team let up 17 hits in the 12-6 loss against Jacksonville State. With the loss, FIU falls to (1-2) and loses the opening series of the season.
Gamecocks shortstop Taylor Hawthorne doubled to right field in the second inning, allowing center fielder Peyton Williams and first baseman Andrew Naismith to score runs, establishing a 3-0 lead over the Panthers. JSU continued to extend the lead in the third inning when catcher Hayden White scored off of a sacrifice fly from Naismith, bringing the score to 4-0.
Panthers starting pitcher Alex Demchak was replaced by right-hander Robert Garcia in the second inning. Demchak played 1 1/3 innings, allowing three runs off of five hits.
In the fifth inning, the Panthers rallied back from the deficit as shortstop Irving Lopez solo homered to right field to bring the score to 5-4. This temporarily gave FIU the lead, as Jacksonville State followed back with three runs at the top of the sixth inning, jumping back up to a 7-5 lead.
JSU right fielder Chase Robinson capped off the 12-6 victory for the Gamecocks as he scored the last run of the game off of a wild pitch in the top of the ninth.
Head Coach Mervyl Melendez gave credit to the Jacksonville State hitters, acknowledging that the Gamecocks made key adjustments throughout the series.
“JSU did a good job. Jim Case is one of the best coaches in the game right now,” said Melendez. “The Gamecocks made adjustments, and their batters also did a good job of recovering when they fell down 0-2 in the strike count.”
Freshman third baseman Javier Valdes had the best game of his young career, going four for five, with a double and a RBI in game three of the series.
Left fielder Christian Khawam also contributed by going three for four on the day, with a double and his first career home run with FIU.
When asked about the following game against the University of Miami, Coach Melendez referred to the game as another stepping stone for the team.
“This game is a good benchmark to see where we are as a team,” said Melendez. “The game on Wednesday is just another game for us to get better and improve on the things that the team needs to work on.”
FIU will host the cross-town rival Miami Hurricanes Wednesday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. This will be the first of four meetings for both teams.
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