Box Score LITTLE ROCK - FIU's T.J. Shantz and Mike Martinez combined to drive in nine runs on Sunday afternoon to lead the Golden Panthers to a 17-7 win over UALR at Gary Hogan Field. Tied at 3-all after four innings, FIU (25-16, 10-8) scored four runs in each of the next two innings to complete its three-game sweep of UALR (16-23, 6-12).
Shantz went 5-for-6 at the plate with two runs scored and five RBI to lead the Golden Panthers. He capped off FIU's four-run rally in the fifth inning with a three-run homer to left center - his third of the year. Martinez hit a two-run single to center in the sixth to help FIU extend its lead to 11-6, and added a two-run homer in the top of the ninth - his eighth of the year. He went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and four RBI in the win.
Kyle Fitzpatrick took the mound at the start of the sixth and retired the first nine Trojans he faced before surrendering a solo homer to senior Jason Houston at the start of the ninth. Fitzpatrick allowed just two hits and a run over the final 4.0 innings to improve to 6-1 on the year.
UALR held a 3-1 lead after the first three frames, as FIU managed just one run off starter Calvin Drinnen at the start of the game - compliments of a solo homer to left by Jabari Henry. Down 7-3 in the bottom of the fifth, the Trojans rallied for three runs to make it a one-run contest, 7-6. Senior Jake Rowell led off the frame with a solo homer to right (his fourth of the year), and junior Cameron Bentley capped off the scoring with a two-run triple to left center.
FIU pushed across four runs in the top of the sixth to put the game out of reach after Garrett Wittels started things off with a leadoff double, and then Fitzpatrick closed the door on UALR over the final four innings.
Senior Garret Graziano (3-6) came on in relief of Drinnen in the fourth with runners on the corners and two outs. He retired the first batter he faced to escape the jam, but allowed four runs off four hits in the fifth to take the loss.
The Trojans were outhit 12-to-20 in the loss, despite three-hit performances by Rowell and Houston. Rowell went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, two RBI, two doubles and a homer to lead the Trojans. He and Bentley tied for the team lead with two runs batted in apiece.
UALR returns to action Tuesday night when it hosts Central Baptist College at 6 p.m.
