Late Runs For FIU Sinks Baseball, 4-2

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Miami, Fla. - Florida International picked up four straight two-out singles in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a, 2-2, tie and defeat the Seton Hall baseball team, 4-2, Friday evening at FIU Baseball Stadium in Miami.  Despite the loss, freshman Brian Gilbert (Toms River, N.J.) gave the Pirates five strong innings on the mound in his first collegiate start.

After Pirates' relief pitcher Benny Mejia (Paterson, N.J.) delivered two quick outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, Jose Behar got things started for the Panthers (9-2) with a single to right field.  Pablo Bermudez followed with single of his own through the right side of the infield, setting up first and second for Jeremy Patton who drove in the eventual-winning run with a single up the middle.  Garrett Wittels took his pitch to left field driving in Bermudez for the, 4-2, advantage.

The teams traded runs early in the game with Patton starting the scoring with a two-out two-run double to left field in the bottom of the second, but the Pirates (2-5) quickly came back.

In the visiting half of the third inning, Zach Granite (Staten Island, N.Y.) reached on an infield single to the left side.  Shortstop Wittles then kept the frame alive for the Pirates two batters later when he mishandled a ball off the bat of A.J. Rusbarsky (Freehold, N.J.).  Will Walsh (New Milford, N.J.) was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Frank Esposito (Staten Island, N.Y.) who drew an RBI walk.

In the top of the fourth inning, Connor Delepine (Middletown, N.J.) tied the score at two by belting a one-out pitch over the left field wall for his first collegiate home run.

Delepine led the way for the Pirates offensively finishing the day 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI.  Granite earned a hit, a stolen base, and a run scored, while Dale Anderson (Alberta, Canada) ended his night reaching base twice with a single and a walk.

Mejia (0-1) suffered the loss despite five strikeouts in 2.2 relief innings.  Jose Velazquez (2-0) picked up the win with 1.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

In Gilbert's five innings, he allowed only two runs on five hits striking out two.  His counterpart, Phil Haig - also receiving a no-decision - finished his night with 6.1 innings of work allowing two runs on five hits striking out seven.

The Pirates and Panthers return to action tomorrow with the second game of the three-game series beginning at 6:00 p.m.