FIU baseball season comes to a close after loss to Columbia in Coral Gables Regional

Austin Rodriguez had a hit and RBI in the Panthers’ loss to the Columbia Lions on May 31.

By Joel Delgado ’12 MS ’17 

FIU baseball was hoping to play two games on Sunday at Alex Rodriguez Park in the Coral Gables Regional.

Unfortunately, a late push to keep the season alive and play that second game came up short for the Panthers (30-31), who fell to the Columbia Lions (33-16) in a 4-3 loss in an elimination game.

The loss to the Ivy League champions ends a season that included a dramatic Conference USA championship run and the program’s first win in an NCAA regional since 2001.

“In all three games here, we battled as hard as you can battle,” Head Coach Turtle Thomas said. “Today was a very close, very tight game. One hit here, one hit there was going to win the game.”

With the bases loaded and one out in the top of the first, FIU third baseman Josh Anderson hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Jack Schaaf from third base to give the Panthers an early edge.

In the second, Zack Soria slapped an RBI single into right-centerfield to tack on another run and give FIU a 2-0 lead early on.

But the Panthers’ offense went silent after that, going hitless for four consecutive innings against the Lions. Columbia took advantage of that dry spell, tying the game in the bottom of the third inning after right fielder Robb Paller hit a double down the left field line to score two runs.

Paller struck again in the fifth inning, giving the Lions the lead with an RBI single to right field. The Lions added another run on an infield error to put the Panthers in a 4-2 hole. Paller finished the game 2-for-4 with 3 RBI for the Lions.

Things looked bleak for the Panthers heading into the eighth inning, but FIU got the bases loaded with one out and designated hitter Austin Rodriguez hit a sacrifice fly to left field to make it a one-run ball game.

The Panthers couldn’t get the tying run across the plate, however, and entered the final frame trailing by a run.

“We fought all year and I thought in the eighth inning, which has always been a good inning for us, we were going to break through and take the lead,” Thomas said. “We just couldn’t quite get that one other hit.”

Down to their final three outs with the top of the order at the plate, the Panthers were unable to get a runner on base against Lions relief pitcher Adam Cline.

Anderson, Soria and Rodriguez each had a hit and RBI apiece in the game. FIU starter Cody Crouse allowed three earned runs and got the losing decision, pitching 4.1 innings with two strikeouts and two walks.