Sam Houston takes series opener at FIU

Friday, March 20

Miami, Fla.

5:00 PM

10-11, 1-3

FIU

7-16, 0-4

Sam Houston

FIU

Photo by: Grant Sides

Sam Houston takes series opener at FIU

3/20/2026 8:48:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

MIAMI – Ryan Peterson took center stage once again and the Sam Houston Bearkats delivered the first blow of the weekend with a 3-2 win over FIU in the series opener on Friday night at FIU Baseball Stadium.

Peterson was nothing short of dominant against the Panthers (7-16, 0-4 CUSA), allowing just a solo home run in the second inning en route to earning his second win of the season. The junior right-hander punched out eight and allowed only two hits in 7.0 innings, but it was Zak Johnson who got the job done in the final 2.0 frames to earn his second save of the year.

The win, which was the Kats' (10-11, 1-3 CUSA) first win in a road series opener since doing so at FIU in 2024, did not come easily against a Panther team who saw its losing streak extended to 11 games.

Sam Houston trailed 1-0 after a solo homer from Trey Freeman in the second, but used smallball to plate a pair of runs in the top of the third. Jace Martinez started the rally with an infield hit which was followed by consecutive bunt singles by Caleb Cotton and Jeric Curtis and a sac fly by Hunter Alvord.

Curtis finished the game with three hits and four times on base, swiping two of the Kats' seven bases in the game. The seven steals was the most for SHSU since getting the same number of bags at Texas Tech in 2023.

Despite nine hits, seven steals and five walks drawn, the runs did not come easily. Still, Cade Corcoran delivered a clutch RBI single with two outs in the seventh to plate Alvord in what would be a key insurance run.

FIU starter Preston Prince struck out six in 4.0 innings, but took the loss to fall to 0-2, but was nearly taken off the hook by the Panther offense in the eighth. It took the Panthers just two batters following Peterson's exit to get a run home and cut the lead to 3-2; however, Johnson entered with the tying run on base and killed the rally right there with three straight outs.

The Panthers put some pressure on the Kats in the ninth as well when they got the leadoff hitter on the bases, but Johnson answered with strikeouts of each of the next two batters to close it out.

UP NEXT
Sam Houston will try to clinch the series on Saturday in the middle game of the weekend. Freshman righty Collin Aloisio is set for the start, opposite FIU lefty George Adams. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m. CT and will be aired on ESPN+.