MIAMI — The LIU baseball team traded forecasted snow on Long Island for balmy Sunshine State weather to christen its season on Friday.
And the Sharks had a quick start on Opening Day, scoring the game's opening four runs before ultimately falling to host Florida International, 6-4, in the season opener at FIU Baseball Stadium.
Jack Power opened the season's scoring with a second-inning solo homer, which he tucked inside the right-field foul pole. LIU then got RBI singles from
JC Navarro and
Jake Mastillo in a three-run third to build a 4-0 lead.
Opening Day starter
Garrett Yawn took a scoreless effort into the fifth inning, when he surrendered a one-out RBI double and handed the ball over to
Jack VanDoran with a 4-1 lead and two runners in scoring position.
VanDoran allowed both inherited runners to score, but maintained a one-run lead with a strikeout that stranded the bases loaded.
FIU pulled even in the sixth and broke the tie with a two-run seventh.
LIU relievers issued three bases-loaded walks.
Yawn had benefited from a pair of first-inning catches from center fielder
Max Samson on the track. Yawn then stranded the bases loaded in the fourth by coaxing an inning-ending comebacker from Brendan Roney to keep FIU scoreless at that point.
Aussie
Benjamin Fierenzi made his LIU debut as the starter at shortstop. UConn transfer
Noah Sorensen pinch hit in the eighth and remained in the game at second base in his collegiate debut.
The teams continue the four-game series with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 2 p.m.
Dominic Pieto and
Jared Hughes are expected to start on the mound for the Sharks.
The Sharks also spend next weekend in South Florida to face Miami in a three-game series.
