Mendoza’s Blast Lifts FSU Past FIU, 9-6

One night after a big strikeout with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, Florida State’s Drew Mendoza came through in the clutch as the Seminoles topped Florida International at Dick Howser Stadium on Wednesday afternoon, 9-6.

Mendoza delivered the big blow to the Golden Panthers (10-10) with a 3-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a 6-6 tie. Mendoza went 2-for-3 with four RBIs in the victory.

The Seminoles started strong with four runs in the second inning, but the next six would belong to Florida International. FIU wasted no time drawing even with four runs in the top of the third. The Golden Panthers added two more in the fifth on a blast from Austin Shelton. Shelton finished with four RBIs in the loss.

J.C. Flowers’ fifth home run of the season — a solo shot — in the bottom of the fifth cut the lead in half before the Seminoles evened things up on an RBI groundout off the bat of Elijah Cabell in the seventh. That would cap the scoring until Mendoza’s game-winning blast.

Conor Grady picked up his third win for the Seminoles (15-5) by retiring each of the four batters he faced. Flowers worked a scoreless ninth to record his fourth save. Gio Soto took the loss for FIU.

In addition to the big days for Mendoza and Shelton, Florida International’s Chris Williams had three of the team’s nine hits. Adan Fernandez also homered in the loss. Like Mendoza, Reese Albert, Robby Martin and Nander De Sedas all had two hits for FSU. Martin and Flowers each scored a pair of runs for the Seminoles.

FSU will look to get back over .500 in ACC play on Friday as it visits Notre Dame.

Mike Ferguson is the editor of The Daily Nole. Follow Mike on Twitter @MikeWFerguson