9th inning error opens door for FIU

CORAL GABLES — The Florida International baseball team had wasted plenty of chances.

The Panthers more than made up for it when it counted the most. FIU scored two runs in the ninth to defeat the Miami Hurricanes, 5-4, Wednesday at Mark Light Field.

“That’s a disappointing loss,” UM coach Jim Morris said. “We’re ahead there at the end. We normally win whenwe’reaheadat the end. FIU battled hard. They did a good job on that. We should have scored more runs. We went 1 for 10 with guys in scoring position.”

The Panthers scored the tying run afterUMshortstop Randy Batista committed an error while trying to throw to first for the game-ending double play. Instead, Irving Lopez scored from second. The next batter, JC Escarra, then put FIU ahead with an RBI single.

”He didn’t have his sink, his fastballs,” Morris said of UM closer Frank Bartow, who allowed three hits and two runs in the ninth. “That happens to closers. It’s magnified in that situation.”

Panthers reliever Michael Agis ended it when he got Romy Gonzalez to fly out to earn the victory. He allowed just three hits and no runs in five innings.

“I thoughtwe played with a lot of intensity,” FIU coach MervylMelendez said. “And I thought our pitching was really good.”

The finishwas the perfect redemption for thePanthers, who blew a chance to score big when it had the basesloaded with no outs in the fifthinningagainstUMstarter Jesse Lepore. FIU came away with just one run.

The Panthers (25-18) were playing without top hitter KennyMeimestorfandstarting outfielder Jack Shaaf. Both were ruled out shortly before the game because of an undisclosed illness.

The loss kept the Hurricanes from going above .500 for the first time since the third game of the season. At 20-21, they are in danger of snapping their 44-year streak of qualifying for the NCAATournament.