Baseball Delivers Incredible Ninth-Inning Comeback to Beat Florida International 8-6

Friday, March 14

Miami, Fla.

6:30 p.m.

Bucknell University

7-9

Florida International

13-7

Bucknell

FIU Panthers

Photo by: Alisa Mitchell

Baseball Delivers Incredible Ninth-Inning Comeback to Beat Florida International 8-6

3/14/2025 10:31:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

MIAMI, Fla. – The Bucknell baseball team delivered an incredible ninth-inning comeback, scoring seven runs in the frame to defeat Florida International 8-6 on Friday night at FIU Baseball Stadium. Michael Trommer gave the Bison the lead with a fielder's choice, then Ryan Facinelli roped a single that brought home what became the winning runs.

Down 4-1 in the ninth, eight consecutive Bison hitters reached base safely. Chris Morabito beat the throw on a dropped third strike and John Calabrese walked to get two runners on board, setting up an RBI single by Matt Alexander to cut the deficit to 4-2.

Billy Fluharty lit up the first pitch of the next at-bat down the right field line for a double, scoring Calabrese and giving the Bison runners at second and third. A walk by Tyler Dunn loaded the bases, and Kender followed suit to tie the game 4-4 with only one out.

With the bases still loaded, Michael Trommer hit a ground ball to the right side and hustled to beat the throw at first to avoid a double play and bring home Fluharty. Facinelli then smoked the next pitch past the second baseman to bring home two runs that extended the lead to 7-4. Morabito stepped up for the second time in the inning, singling to left field to make it 8-4.

It was a nervy ending, as FIU loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth with no outs on Jonathan Adelmann, who had already pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth inning. Adelmann quickly worked a ground out and an infield pop out as the Panthers cut it to 8-6. A fly ball to Calabrese ended it, and the Bison snapped their three-game losing streak.

The Bison used just two pitchers after an onslaught of arms over the last three games. Adelmann took over in the seventh, getting through two clean innings before the Bison rallied to give the righthander his second career win. The Panthers' two-run rally in the ninth were the first runs Adelmann has allowed in his name all year.

Tyler O'Neill gave the Bison another strong start, allowing four runs on seven hits over six innings. His great day was overshadowed by two early home runs by Brylan West, which accounted for three of the four runs he allowed.

O'Neill fanned eight batters in the game, moving up three spots to fourth on Bucknell's career strikeouts list with 186. O'Neill's fourth strikeout in the third inning surpassed Mike Anders ('98) and Andrew Andreychik ('16). He now sits nine strikeouts behind Jack Recco ('77) on the list.

Billy Fluharty opened the scoring in the first inning. In his first start in the lead off spot, the sophomore was plunked on the first pitch. He moved to second on a wild pitch, to third on a fly ball, and home safely on another wild pitch.

The first-inning score for the Bison was immediately undone by West's lead off home run on just the second pitch of the game. West then crushed a two-run homer in the third inning, hitting a line drive that cleared the wall in no time to take a 3-1 lead. A two-out rally in the fourth extended the Panthers' lead to 4-1.

The Bison had just three hits before the crazy ninth inning. After a leadoff single by Morabito in the second, Easton Marks retired 10 straight Bison batters until Calabrese got on board with a single in the fifth inning. Two walks loaded the bases, but a strikeout stranded all three runners. BU then went three-up, three-down in the seventh and eighth innings.

Morabito had the only two-hit day for the Bison. The sophomore left fielder was 2-for-4 with a walk and an RBI at the plate. Facinelli was credited with two RBIs on his hit in the late rally.

Dunn drew three walks and has reached base in all nine games he has played in this season. Calabrese was 1-for-3 at the plate with a walk and a run scored. Calabrese made his debut on Tuesday at FAU, and has since gone 3-for-7 at the plate with a walk, an RBI and a run scored.

The Bison have two more games to end the Spring Break trip at Florida International. The Bison and Panthers are set for a 5 p.m. first pitch tomorrow before a 12 p.m. series finale on Sunday at FIU Baseball Stadium.