Outfielder tags up from second base for game-winning run over Hurricanes

Brett Shweky // Staff Writer

The Panthers rallied late to takedown the Hurricanes, 3-2, Wednesday night at FIU, when Miami center fielder Carl Chester snagged a line drive hit by FIU’s Nick Day, allowing senior outfielder Kolby Follis to tag up from second and sprint home for the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning.

FIU got the bottom of the ninth going when senior infielder JC Escarra singled to center field. Follis, who runs a 6.13 in the 60, was put in to pinch-run for Escarra with one out. Follis then advanced to second, when Miami pitcher Frankie Bartow (1-1) intentionally walked senior infielder Zach Files.

Day hit the first pitch that was thrown to him by Bartow and sent it to deep center field. Follis immediately tagged back at second base and bolted to third base. As he reached third base, head coach Mervyl Melendez waved Follis home for the game-winning run.

Coach Melendez said once he saw Day hit the ball that deep, he knew Follis would score a run.

“I thought Day hit that ball as hard as he could hit to be honest with you,” said Melendez. “Once I saw the ball go as deep as it did, I knew that Kolby would be able to run home.”

Miami (4-8) restricted FIU (7-6) from scoring a run until the bottom of the sixth, when senior infielder Irving Lopez scored on a passed ball, making the score 1-0.  

In the bottom of the seventh inning, freshman infielder Adam Sevario RBI singled to left field, sending Files home for the game-tying run, 2-2.

Freshman pitcher Tyler Myrick started the game for FIU, pitching through five innings and striking out seven opposing batters. Myrick, despite the slow start, finished the game only allowing two hits and one run.

Coach Melendez thought Myrick played remarkably for the Panthers.

“Tyler did an outstanding job, you take that first inning out of the mix, I don’t think he was threatened that much,” said Melendez. “He started off a little slow, he gave up a hit to the lead-off guy, but if I can attribute our victory to something, he was able to limit the Hurricanes to one run after he had the bases loaded.”

Right-hander Chandler Raiden (1-0) threw a scoreless final inning to secure his first win of the season.

Thursday night at the FIU ballpark, the Panthers will open a three-game series against the (8-2) Charleston Southern University Buccaneers. First pitch is set for 7 .m., where FIU right-hander Chris Mourelle (1-1) will duel it out with CSU right-hander Evan Nations.

Watch the game-winning run here:
https://twitter.com/With_Da_Scoop/status/839673285763874816