FIU rallies past La. Tech in first game of doubleheader

MIAMI – Brian Portelli’s RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning gave Florida International a 12-11 win over Louisiana Tech in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday. The second game was not complete at press time.

FIU’s Rey Perez singled to lead off the inning and went to second after Julius Gaines’ bunt single. A sacrifice bunt moved both runners to second and third. Edwin Rios was intentionally walked then Portelli delivered the game-winning single.

The loss came in a game that Tech led 6-0 after the top half of the first inning.

Taylor Love had a two-run double in the inning for the Bulldogs. Tech also got RBIs from Mason Paxton, Taylor Nichols, Chandler Hall and Bryce Stark.

FIU got three of the runs back in the bottom half of the inning on a Rios home run.

Tech extended the lead to 8-3 in the second with an RBI single from Love and a solo home run from Bre’Shon Kimbell. Tech scored two more times in the fourth inning for a 10-4 advantage.

But Bulldogs starter Tyler Clancy struggled to keep FIU in check. He went 5 1-3 innings and allowed nine hits and nine runs, seven earned.

After holding an 11-6 lead, FIU scored five times in the sixth inning to tie the score at 11. Portelli’s three-run homer in the inning tied the score at 11.

Tech wasted one of its better offensive performances of the season. The Bulldogs had 18 hits in the contest. Eight Bulldogs hitters had two more hits in the contest with Love leading the way with three hits and three RBIs.

After Clancy left the game, Braden Bristo went 2 2-3 innings and allowed two earned runs. Adam Atkins (1-4) pitched the 11th and took the loss for Tech.