FIU's rally from eight runs down to Charlotte fell just short Sunday afternoon at the FIU ballpark as the 49ers escaped with an 8-7 win. Charlotte (13-7, 2-1 Conference USA) won the series from FIU (12-9, 1-2) taking two of three games on the weekend.
The 49ers jumped on the Panthers with five runs in the fourth inning and three runs in the fifth to build an 8-0 lead. Charlotte got four hits and five runs off FIU starter Dominic LoBrutto (1-1) in the fourth, including a two-run home run by Zack Smith.
The Panthers pecked away with single runs in the fifth and seventh innings before a furious rally in the final two frames.