Panthers Lose to Holy Cross in High Scoring Contest

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MIAMI, FL – It was a long Sunday afternoon full of back-and-forth baseball that any fan of the sport would enjoy. Tied at nine in the sixth, Mario Trivella hit a grand slam, which seemed to be the turning point of the game for the Panthers.

With a 15-12 FIU lead in the ninth, the Crusaders responded with a huge eight-run inning. Down by five in the final frame, the Panthers made some noise late but ultimately would lose 20-15 to Holy Cross in a high-scoring contest.

Back-And-Forth Offense

Both programs had no problem trading runs from the beginning of the game.

Holy Cross scored three runs in the first inning. The Panthers responded back in the bottom of the frame with three home runs.

LEADOFF HR COOP 😱 pic.twitter.com/iCKQm9Rw6Z

— FIU Baseball (@FIUBaseball) February 22, 2026

Cooper Rasmussen opened the scoring with a leadoff home run to right, his second home run in consecutive games. After a single from Andrew Ildefonso, Luca Reyes brought him home with a long two-run home run off the scoreboard.

With the game tied up already, FIU’s power bats weren’t done quite yet. Samuel Fischer hit a solo shot, giving the Panthers back-to-back home runs. The home run was his third of the series.

ADMIN CANNOT KEEP UP ‼️

Sammy with his third HR of the weekend for the back-to-back! pic.twitter.com/Int6Hb2p1u

— FIU Baseball (@FIUBaseball) February 22, 2026

The Crusaders added two runs in the second inning on a groundout and a throwing error play. The Panthers got those two runs back in the third inning.

With the bases loaded, Mario Trivella flew out for an RBI sacrifice fly. Then, with the bases loaded once again, Vicente Feliciano drew a walk to put FIU back on top, 6-5.

Holy Cross was able to get one back in the fourth after CJ Egrie stole home, but FIU was able to get Braden Connors out on the basepaths on a rundown.

In his start, Jordan Vargas surrendered five hits and six runs (five earned) while striking out four in 4.0 innings. Out of the 20 batters he faced, he got six of them to groundout.

The Crusaders got back to work and added three runs off of Mason Koczawa. The junior allowed three hits, three runs, and a home run.

Seven-Run Sixth Inning

Early on in the season, FIU has found a pattern of having a big inning. Today, it was the sixth, where they scored seven runs, the fourth time already this season that they had done so.

Feliciano singled to start the inning, and then Rasmussen followed up with a walk to give themselves two base runners with no outs.

Andrew Ildefonso hit a double to right center to score a run, and then Reyes plated two more with another double to tie the game up at nine apiece. Reyes added to his RBI totals in the day with four and on the season with a team-leading 17. He had three hits.

Guess what?@lucareyes_ ties us up! pic.twitter.com/tvnKFM2ifS

— FIU Baseball (@FIUBaseball) February 22, 2026

Moments later after a pair of walks, Trivella came up to the plate and came up big with a grand slam. It was FIU’s second consecutive game with a grand slam and his second game in a row with a home run.

Bot 6th
Holy Cross 9 | FIU 13

Mario Trivella hits a grand slam to put the Panthers ahead by four. FIU has scored seven runs in the inning.#FIU | #Panthers | #PawsUp pic.twitter.com/E6ublnHwcS

— Ricardo Urrusuno (@RickScores) February 22, 2026

The grand slam gave FIU the 13-9 lead. Trivella had a five-RBI game.

FIU Scores Additional Go-Ahead Runs

Clayton Sherwood made his second relief appearance of the season. He tossed the seventh inning, allowing five hits, including a three-run homer.

Sherwood made a spectacular defensive play on the mound, having his glove in the right position to catch a line drive that was hit towards him.

how about some PFP @ClaytonSherwoo5 😎

T7 | Holy Cross 12, FIU 13 pic.twitter.com/jP6PaN7wq3

— FIU Baseball (@FIUBaseball) February 22, 2026

Up 13-12, FIU added two additional go-ahead runs in the seventh to maintain their lead. Fischer hit his first collegiate triple to score Ildefonso. He capped off his impressive weekend with his best performance, going 4/5 with a couple of runs batted in.

It’s officially breakout szn for Sammy! 😤 pic.twitter.com/InATJCWgXX

— FIU Baseball (@FIUBaseball) February 22, 2026

Later on, Hector Candelas and Trivella walked to give FIU a bases-loaded opportunity once more. Aidan Cohall came up to pinch hit, and he got hit by a pitch, making it a 15-12 contest.

Holy Cross Comes Back with Eight-Run Ninth

Bryce Turner delivered a 1-2-3 inning in the eighth with two punchouts, but his luck came to a halt in the ninth. Searching for his second save of the season, the right-hander out of Rockledge, Florida, gave up two home runs.

The save opportunity was blown, and the Crusaders tied the game at 15. He was responsible for four earned runs.

Tracen Cameron entered the game to relieve Turner, but to no avail. The righty out of Vero Beach, Florida, allowed four runs (one earned) and failed to record an out as well.

Rene Lastres came into the game in a 20-15 deficit and was able to record the much-needed three outs.

With two outs in the ninth, Andrew Ildefonso did more damage at the plate with a two-run double to cut the deficit to 20-17. Ildefonso went 3/6 with three RBI and two doubles.

However, FIU just couldn’t finish the job to score additional runs in hopes of another walk-off.

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