The Golden Panthers got two strong starting pitching performances, but were only able to manage one win as FIU split a double header with Brown on day one of the Baseball at The Beach tournament in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Game 1

Freshman Pablo Bermudez went 4-4, including a game-winning two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh, and Scott Rembisz tossed a complete game to give FIU a 3-2 win over Brown in FIU’s first game of the Baseball at The Beach tournament.

Pablo Bermudez led off the bottom of the first for FIU with a double to right-center, however, he’d be stranded at third as the next three hitters went down in order.

In the bottom of the third, FIU got on the board by putting together three straight two-out hits. With two down and none on, Bermudez got FIU’s offense started with a single up the middle. Ryan Mollica followed by stinging a pitch and sending it right back at Brown’s starting pitcher Will Wiedig. The ball went off Weidig’s leg and couldn’t be played, putting Mollica on first with a base hit. Tyler Townsend then jumped on the first pitch he saw, lining it into center to drive in Bermudez.

After holding Brown to just one hit through six innings, Rembisz allowed a two-run home run in the top of the seventh, giving the Bears a 2-1 lead.

The Golden Panthers got the two runs right back as Pablo Bermudez hit his first career home run to give FIU a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the seventh. With two down, Junior Arrojo kept the inning alive with a single up the middle. After Arrojo stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch, Bermudez, turned on a 3-1 offering and sent it flying over the left field wall.

Rembisz would not allow another runner to get past first base as the junior transfer locked up his first victory as a Golden Panther. Rembisz finished with six strikeouts in the ballgame.

The win improved FIU’s record to 3-1, while Brown dropped to 0-1. The two teams will play game 2 of the double header beginning at 4:45 p.m.

Game 2

FIU got a strong performance from starter R.J. Fondon, who went six and struck out seven, but Fondon left with the bases loaded in the sixth and the pen couldn’t keep the runners from scoring, as Brown scored six in the inning to eventually beat FIU 7-4.

Fondon struck out the side in the bottom of the first, the offense went to work in the top half of the second, plating three to take an early lead. The inning began by Tim Jobe reaching on an error by the shortstop. After Javi Sujo hit a long single into the right-center gap, Garrett Wittels followed with a single through the left side to plate Jobe. After a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third, a ground out by Doug Joyce drove in the second FIU run. Ty Main then doubled on a high chopper over the third baseman’s head to drive in Wittels and give the Golden Panthers a 3-0 lead.

In the bottom of the fourth, Ty Main made a spectacular grab to steal an extra-base hit from Robert Papenhause. With one away and none on, the Brown first baseman hammered a pitch towards the left field wall. When it looked like the ball would drop for at least a double, Main leapt and caught the ball over his head at the warning track to record the out.

The Golden Panthers added to their lead, scoring one in the top of the sixth. Tyler Townsend led off the inning with a triple off the center field wall. Tim Jobe then drove in Townsend with a groundout to short, pushing the FIU lead to 4-0.

After five strong innings, the FIU lead turned into a deficit in the sixth inning as Brown scored six to take the lead. After not allowing a hit in the third, fourth or fifth innings, RJ Fondon got himself in a jam, giving up back-to-back hits to open the bottom of the sixth. After walking the next batter, Fondon was pulled in favor of Daniel DeSimone, leaving the bases loaded with no outs. After a DeSimone’s first offering was fouled off, the sophomore hurler was called for a balk, plating the first Brown run. DeSimone the uncorked a wild pitch, allowing another run to score for the Bears. A sacrifice fly would then allow the final runner that was on base to come home, cutting the FIU lead to 4-3. After a single and a walk, pinch hitter Nick Punal singled to center to tie the score at four. The inning appeared to be over when the next batter hit a bouncer to short, but an error allowed two more runs to cross the plate, giving Brown a 6-4 lead.

The Bears added to their lead in the bottom of the seventh, scoring their seventh run of the game on a triple to center that scored a runner from first. After Mason McVay walked a hitter and then struck out the next batter, he was relieved by Jorge Marban. The righty reliever gave up the triple to the first batter he faced but then struck out the next two, minimizing the damage and leaving a runner on third.

The Golden Panthers couldn’t mount any offense against the Bears’ bullpen as Brown held on for the 7-4 victory.

Daniel DeSimone (1-1) was charged with the loss for FIU, and Matt Gormley (1-0) got the win for Brown

The loss drops FIU’s record to 3-2 on the year and the win evens out Browns record at 1-1. FIU is scheduled to play Coastal Carolina on Saturday with the time of that game yet to be announced.

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