Box Score

It was a tale of two games for LMU on Saturday, as the Lions (5-6) were clicking on all cylinders in game one of a doubleheader, posting a 10-3 victory over FIU (5-7), but the Panthers managed a split with a 6-0 shutout victory in game two from FIU Baseball Stadium in Miami, Fla.

Niko Decolati led the way offensively in the first game, going 2-for-3 with five RBI, a run scored and his first career homer â€" a three-run shot in the sixth inning. With the five driven in, the freshman from Las Vegas, Nev. collected eight RBI over the first two games of the series.

Seaver Whalen also had a two-hit day in game one, finishing 2-for-3 with a double, three runs scored and an RBI.

Not only did the bats come to play, with the Lions collecting 11 hits and drawing five walks, LMU starter Cory Abbott also impressed. The right-hander dealt 8.0 innings of two-run ball, surrendering eight hits and one walk with four strikeouts to earn the victory and move to 1-1 on the year.

Unfortunately the momentum did not carry into the second game of the day, as FIU jumped out to a first-inning run off of starter Blake Redman and never looked back. Kolby Follis led off the home half of the first with his first triple of the season before coming in on a sacrifice fly from Jack Schaaf. Although FIU would go on to score five more runs in the game, the single run in the first was enough to tag Redman with his second loss of the season. The right-hander tossed 5.1 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits with four strikeouts.

The Panthers added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings before tacking on three more (one earned) in the eighth â€" benefitting from an errant throw from reliever Michael Silva while fielding a bunt and trying to force out the lead runner.

LMU's offense could not figure out starter Garrett Cave, as the right-hander tossed 6.1 scoreless frames, scattering five hits and striking out nine. The walk proved to cause Cave a bit of trouble, as he issued four free passes, but he worked out of every jam he encountered before passing the ball to Alex Demchak out of the bullpen. The left-handed reliever threw the final 2.2 innings, surrendering three hits and a walk with three strikeouts to earn the save and move Cave to 1-1 with the victory.

Continuing his solid play to start 2016, Cassidy Brown finished game one 1-for-3 with a run scored. He did not start game two, but entered as a pinch hitter and ultimately finished 2-for-2 with a walk. Brown has now hit safely in nine straight games, including posting multiple hits in six of the nine.

LMU will finish the four-game series with FIU tomorrow at 10 a.m. PT. Right-hander Tyler Cohen will take the mound for LMU, opposed by righty Cody Crouse for FIU.