Erick Caldera | Staff writer
After winning its series against Holy Cross 3-1, the Panthers (6-2, 0-0 CUSA) head to Gainesville for a two-game series against the nationally ranked Florida Gators.
The series begins Feb. 24 at 6:30 p.m. and concludes the following day at 6 p.m.
FIU scored 44 runs in its latest series against Holy Cross, an explosive showing that has the lineup firing on all cylinders. Now, the Panthers will look to carry that offensive momentum into their next matchup.
Samuel Fischer launched his first home run of the season in the fourth inning of Game 1 against Holy Cross — a two-run shot that helped spark the offense. The Panthers added six more runs in the sixth inning before the pitching staff slammed the door, finishing with four straight scoreless frames.
“All the work I’ve been putting in paid off today without even trying to do it for myself,” Fischer said after the game.
The Panthers’ offense was electric, launching nine home runs over the course of the series — two of them delivering walk-off victories. It was a power surge that turned the ballpark into a highlight reel and the series into a showcase of clutch hitting.
In Game two, Mario Trivella delivered in dramatic fashion, launching a walk-off home run in extra innings to seal the win. The momentum carried into the second game of the doubleheader, where Luca Reyes broke it open with a towering grand slam, putting the game away for good and capping a statement performance.
Despite the offensive explosion, the Panthers struggled defensively, surrendering 30 runs on 31 hits over the final two games of the series. They will need to correct those issues quickly as they prepare for a tough matchup against Florida.
The Gators will be the first of four state rivals FIU will face in less than a month. The Panthers are also scheduled to play Florida Atlantic, Florida Gulf Coast and No. 23 Miami, all before the end of March.
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