Panthers Fall to the Tops in Game One

BOWLING GREEN, KY – Coming off the heels of their loss to FGCU, the FIU Panthers started Conference USA play in Bowling Green against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers. After the Tops’ hot start, the Panthers could not get out of the hole, being run-ruled by a score of 15-4.

The Tops quickly jumped out to an early 5-3 run lead by the top of the third inning. Luca Reyes was the only bright spot for FIU, as he hit a Home Run in the top of the second to close the run gap to four. However, Western Kentucky responded well as they fired back with five runs to close out the fourth.

Luca says BYE-BYE 👋

His fifth HR of the season gets us on the board! pic.twitter.com/ty9Eytfr66
— FIU Baseball (@FIUBaseball) March 13, 2026

Pithing Problems Persist

Pitching consistency is a common hurdle that Coach Witten and his staff have been dealing with this season, and this game was no different. The Tops connected for a season high of 13 hits. FIU looked to the bullpen frequently as they used four pitchers throughout the game. They combined for a total of 15 runs on 15 hits.

With a total of 165 pitches thrown, FIU’s pitchers pitched 53 more times than WKU. Additionally, the Panthers threw 73 balls, compared to WKU’s 37. That’s 36 extra balls or 9 free runs that the FIU pitching crew gave the Tops.

The game became out of reach by the end of the fifth inning. The Tops had put up five more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Game one came to an end with the final score 15-4 in seven innings.

With the loss, FIU’s record drops to 7-12, and 1-5 on the road. The Panthers will continue this series with WKU later today at 5pm, and then again on Sunday, March 15th.

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Manyoo Brown

I’m a big sports fan with a passion for covering games from every angle. For over five years, I worked in a YouTube network, where I wore a lot of hats including: YouTube consultant, PR manager, social media manager, chief writer, editor, and content advisor. Each role gave me hands-on experience with creating content, building audiences, and keeping people engaged. Now, I’m excited to bring that experience to LCL and be part of a team that shares the same love for the game and commitment to great coverage.

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