Box Score

Freshman Niko Decolati contributed an RBI-double down the right field line in the top of the 12th inning, bringing home Brandon Shearer and what proved to be the game-winning run, as LMU (4-5) outlasted Florida International (4-6), 5-4, on Friday night to open a four-game series from FIU Baseball Stadium in Miami, Fla.

Decolati finished the game 2-for-6 with a double, three RBI and a triple, with his two-RBI triple also breaking a 2-2 tie in the sixth.

The 4-2 lead held all the way until the ninth when FIU plated a pair of two-out runs to force extra innings. Junior Blake Redman allowed a leadoff walk in that inning before Sean Watkins took the hill and struck out the next two hitters. Down to their final out, the Panthers got an RBI-double from JC Escarra to cut the deficit to one at 4-3. Watkins would then work to a 1-2 count against Austin Rodriguez, but the right-hand hitter came up clutch, shooting the game-tying single into centerfield.

The duo of Escarra and Rodriguez did the damage in the first inning as well, erasing a 2-0 Lion lead with the same two-out double and RBI-single combination.

Both starting pitchers took no decisions, with LMU's J.D. Busfield turning in his first career quality start. The right-hander surrendered just two runs on 10 hits and one walk while striking out a career-best eight over 6.0 innings. Busfield impressed early in innings, failing to allow a runner with less than two out over the first four frames, but FIU proved tough with two out all night.

The Lion pitching staff registered 15 strikeouts in the win â€" the most since striking out 18 Saint Joseph's batters on February 21, 2015.

Andres Nunez, who started for FIU, was on the hook for a loss after allowing four runs on nine hits and two walks over 5.1 innings, but he ultimately benefitted from his team's late runs.

Austin Miller went 3-for-5 with a run scored and two walks hitting out of the leadoff spot for the Lions, while Phil Caulfield and Cassidy Brown joined Decolati with two-hit nights. Brown has now hit safely in seven straight games, including posting multiple hits in five of the seven.

Harrison Simon earned the victory for LMU after throwing 1.1 scoreless innings and allowing just a two-out single in the 12th. The decision was the first of the year for Simon, who is now 1-0. Williams Durruthy, who tossed 2.1 innings of relief, took the loss for FIU after being charged with the go-ahead run in the 12th.

LMU and FIU will play a doubleheader tomorrow starting at 11 a.m. PT.