FGCU baseball loses midweek opener to FIU

FORT MYERS, Fla. The FGCU baseball team fell to Florida International University 12-5 Tuesday night at Swanson Stadium.

The Panthers wasted no time getting on the scoreboard with four runs in the top of the first inning and another five in the top of the fourth.

The Eagles didn’t score until the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single into right field from junior Matt Reardon, making it a 9-1 game.

FGCU managed to plate another pair of runs in the sixth, narrowing the Panthers’ lead 9-3.

However, FIU extended their lead 11-3 with another two runs in the top of the seventh off a fielding error.

But the Eagles put another pair of runs on the scoreboard in the bottom of the inning after Reardon ripped a triple to deep center field, making it an 11-5 game.

The rally wasn’t enough, as the Panthers’ Zach Flies hit a home run in the eighth, sealing FIU’s 12-5 victory.

FGCU will face FIU for the second game of the series at the FIU Baseball Stadium at 6 p.m.