Kats get out of South Beach with series win

Sunday, March 22

Miami, Fla.

11:00 AM

11-12, 2-4

FIU

8-17, 1-5

Sam Houston

FIU

Photo by: Molli Larsen

Kats get out of South Beach with series win

3/22/2026 10:04:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

MIAMI – Things could have went the other way after Saturday's walk-off win for FIU, but Sam Houston led from the get-go on Sunday and turned it on late for a 7-1 victory to clinch the series over the Panthers at FIU Baseball Stadium.

Jonathan Anders turned in 5.0 innings of brilliant 1-hit, shutout relief and the Bearkat (11-12, 2-4 CUSA) offense put up four runs in the top of the eighth to put the game out of reach. Anders got the win, his first as a Kat, to help SHSU clinch its first road series victory since it's last trip to FIU in 2024.

FIU (8-17, 1-5 CUSA) starter Julian Mlodzinski went a career-long 6.2 innings but was tagged with three runs and fell to 2-4 on the year with the loss.

Offensively, Caleb Cotton had a pair of hits and got a hold of a solo homer in the seventh, his first since 2024 as part of a 10-hit offensive effort. Cade Corcoran added a pair singles, while Wes Baker and Jace Martinez had two RBI apiece.

Baker delivered the game's first big swing, singling with two outs in the first inning to plate a pair of runs and give the Kats an early 2-0 lead. FIU got a run back in the third on a double-play grounder, but that was it as Anders followed with zeros through the seventh inning before giving way to the bullpen tandem of Gabe Winans and Zak Johnson for the final six outs.

Parker Blackman had an RBI single as part of the 4-run seventh inning and Jace Martinez brought two more home one batter later with a 2-run single of his own.

The Kats were menaces on the bases all weekend and Sunday was no different as they swiped three of four attempted bases and advanced on a trio of wild pitches. In all, Sam Houston was successful in 14 of 15 attempted steals for the weekend.

UP NEXT
Sam Houston will return home for four games this week at Don Sanders Stadium, beginning Tuesday with a midweek vs UT Arlington, followed by a weekend series against WKU. Tuesday's first pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. and will be aired on ESPN+.