MIAMI, Fla. - March 18 - Southern Utah surrendered six runs in the bottom of the third inning in what lead to a 10-3 defeat for the Thunderbirds at Florida International on Thursday night. The loss drops the T-Birds to 3-11 on the year while FIU moves to 11-6.
SUU put the first lights on the board as Levi Swenson led off the third inning with a double to left field and later scored on an RBI single up the middle by D.J. Andrade. However, the Panthers answered with a six spot in the bottom of the inning to take a 6-1 lead and chase SUU starter James Crockett off the mound.
The Thunderbirds made the most of a two-out walk followed by three singles to score two runs in the top of the fourth to cut into the lead, but 6-3 would be as close as the T-Birds would come. Another run in the bottom of the fifth inning and three more runs for the home team in the bottom of the eighth inning left the final score at 10-3.
Swenson's bat proved to be the hottest for Southern Utah during the game as the junior went 3-of-4 with one run and one RBI. Garrett Wittels led FIU with three RBI on a 2-of-5 performance from the plate. Crockett dropped to 0-1 with the loss, while Panthers' starter Daniel DeSimone improved to 1-1 in throwing the complete game.
The Thunderbirds will wrap up their spring break trip with a pair of games remaining against Chicago State with the two teams taking to the diamond on Friday and Saturday.
