MIAMI — Middle Tennessee baseball rode an eight-run two-out rally in the second inning to a 12-8 victory Saturday in its Conference USA opener at FIU. Briggs Rutter homered twice and drove in five runs to lead the way.
The Panthers (9-9, 0-1 CUSA) appeared to have a 1-2-3 top of the second in hand, but Brett Vondohlen reached first base after a dropped third strike and a throwing error that pulled the FIU first baseman off the bag. He scored along with Luke Vinson three batters later on Clay Badylak's two-run single.