MIAMI, Fla. – The University of Pennsylvania baseball split its Saturday doubleheader against FIU. The Quakers stormed out to an early lead and capped off game one with an eight-run ninth inning to take a 16-1 victory in game one of the twin bill. In game two, FIU plated a pair in the bottom of the sixth to steal a 2-1 win.
 
The split moves Penn to an even 3-3 with a chance to take the series against FIU tomorrow at noon.
 
NOTES
*Mitchell Holcomb paved the way for Penn's sweltering offensive production in game one. The senior starter tossed eight scoreless frames with eight strikeouts and allowed just three hits and three walks to earn his first victory of the season.
 
*Peter Matt had an incredible day at the plate today. Over the two games, he went 7-for-8 with six RBI and four runs scored.
 
*Eduardo Malinowski has continued to cement his spot as Penn's top hitter this season. Over the two games, he went 3-for-7 with five RBI and a run scored.
 
*Andrew Hernandez earned himself the cleanup spot in game two after going 3-for-6 with an RBI and a run scored in the day's first game.
 
*Penn's 16 hits and 16 runs scored in game one of the doubleheader are both season highs.
 
*The Quakers' four hits allowed in game two of the doubleheader is a season low.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: GAME 1
Penn opened the game quickly, getting on the board in the top of the first. Matt led off with a single and was plated by Hernandez for an early, 1-0 lead.
 
The Quakers blew the game wide open in the second, putting up four to take a 5-0 lead. Two walks and a bunt single in the first three at-bats loaded the bases, then Matt drove in a pair with an RBI single through the right side. A bases-clearing, two-run triple from Malinowski moments later extended the lead to 5-0.
 
Following the four-spot, both teams combined for five hits over the next five innings. Holcomb especially did well to increase the pace of the game, fanning eight and allowing just three hits through the first eight innings.
 
Penn added runs in the seventh and eighth innings, as a run scored on an infield error and a bases-loaded HBP made it 8-0 heading into the ninth.
 
In the final frame, the Quakers highlighted its offensive prowess. Penn doubled its lead behind RBI from Chris Adams, Seth Werchan, Matt, and Malinowski. Adams and Werchan each knocked RBI singles to make it 10-0. A two-run double from Matt extended the lead to 12-0 and an infield error on the next at-bat tacked on another run.
 
Malinowski capped off the scoring surge with his team-leading second dinger of the season. With Matt and Hood on base, Malinowski crushed a homer into heavy winds to extend the lead to 16-0.
 
FIU wouldn't go out without one final word, however. With the bases loaded, a wild pitch made way for a lone run. Of course, the damage had already been done as Penn took a big, 16-1 win.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED: GAME 2
The Quakers defense continued to roll in the opening innings of the doubleheader's second game. Through the first four frames, Eaise fanned four batters with no walks and just one hit allowed.
 
With two outs in the top of the fifth and the game scoreless, Tommy Courtney reached on an error. Matt made the Panthers rue their mistake, plating Courtney with an RBI double on the next at-bat.
 
After another 1-2-3 inning from Eaise in the bottom of the fifth, the Panthers decided that they would not be silenced any longer. A leadoff single and sacrifice bunt put a runner in scoring position, then a single through the left side placed runners on the corners.
 
With two outs, some head-scratching fielding led to a pair of runs to give FIU its first lead of the series. Penn threatened in the bottom of the seventh, but the shortened game proved to be disadvantageous as the Panthers held on for a 2-1 victory.
 
UP NEXT
The Quakers will look to take the series with a fourth game against FIU on Sunday at noon.