STARKVILLE, Miss. -- On Harry Potter Night at Dudy Noble Field, FIU didn't need any magic sticks to zap No. 22 Mississippi State, 8-3, and snap the Bulldogs' seven-game winning streak.
The Panthers (17-11) whacked 14 hits, two long home runs and got commanding pitching to defeat the Bulldogs (19-11) in the teams' first-ever meeting. FIU has now won 15 of its last 20 games.
MSU opened the scoring in the bottom of the first on Brent Rooker's two-run home run off FIU starter Robert Garcia. It was Rooker's 10th round tripper, which leads the Southeastern Conference.