Baseball’s Late Rally Falls Short in 8-6 Loss at FIU

Sunday, March 16

Miami, Fla.

12 p.m.

Bucknell University

8-10

Florida International

14-8

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Bucknell	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	4	0	6	12	1
FIU Panthers	0	3	1	0	1	0	3	0	X	8	6	0

Photo by: Alisa Mitchell

Baseball’s Late Rally Falls Short in 8-6 Loss at FIU

3/16/2025 3:45:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score Photo Gallery

LEWISBURG, Pa. – Florida International made diving plays in the field to end the eighth and ninth innings, sealing an 8-6 win while thwarting another spirited Bucknell comeback attempt on Sunday afternoon at FIU Baseball Stadium. The Bison and Panthers split the four-game series, and after playing nine games in the last 10 days, Bucknell will now turn its attention to the start of Patriot League play next weekend at Navy.

Bucknell (8-10) outhit FIU (14-8) 12-6, but the Panthers' three insurance runs without the benefit of a hit in the bottom of the seventh proved costly. Down 8-2, the Bison mounted another major comeback in the eighth. Bucknell scored seven runs in the top of the ninth in Friday's 8-6 win, and Sunday's rally got going with Ryan Facinelli followed a Michael Trommer leadoff single with his first career home run. Facinelli crushed a 3-1 pitch from lefty David Eckaus over the wall in left-center.

Cool moment here as Ryan Facinelli crushes his first career home run! Bison looking for more late-inning magic at FIU. #rayBucknell

Watch: https://t.co/fj3USietJS @ESPN | @PatriotLeagueHQ pic.twitter.com/D8tOIIcyrv
— Bucknell Baseball ⚾️ (@Bucknell_BB) March 16, 2025

Eckaus retired the next two batters, but four straight two-out singles from Luke Nascimento, John Calabrese, Billy Fluharty, and Tyler Dunn made it 8-6. With the runners at first and second on the move on a 3-2 pitch, Billy Kender hit a sharp ground ball that seemed ticketed for right field, but Kareh Valentin made a diving stop and threw to first in time to end the inning.

Chris Morabito was hit by a pitch with two outs in the ninth. He took second in defensive indifference, and then pinch-hitter Matt Alexander hit a sinking liner to center that was caught by a diving Albert Serrano to end the game.

Bison starter Everett Garber worked a 1-2-3 first inning but was touched for three runs in the second. Fluharty delivered an RBI single in the third and Kender had a sac fly in the fifth, but FIU answered both times with single runs in the bottom half of the innings. Bucknell issued five walks in the bottom of the seventh and three of them scored to make it 8-2.

Sam Janik gave the Bison three strong innings in relief, allowing just an unearned run on two hits.

Dunn went 3-for-5 to pace the offense, and Fluharty and Facinelli added two hits and two RBIs apiece. Valentin went 2-for-3 and was the only player with multiple hits for FIU, which benefited from 10 walks.

Bucknell returns home from its Spring Break trip and will now prep for next weekend's four-game series at Navy. Game 1 starts at 4 p.m. on Friday.