After trailing by two runs for what seemed like the entire game, Florida Atlantic baseball used a strong sixth inning to overcome its deficit and defeat Florida International University 8-4 Thursday afternoon in Biloxi, Mississippi.

A two-run home run for FIU would give the Panthers a 2-0 lead in the second, but with the bases loaded in the sixth freshman Pedro Pages hit a double to to bring in all three runners and give the Owls a 3-2 lead.

FAU was not done however, as senior Jared Shouppe would hit a home run to right field with two runners on to extend the Owls lead 6-2.

The Golden Panthers would threaten to tie the game in the bottom of the inning, cutting the lead in half with a two-run shot, but FAU did not allow FIU back in the game. Senior Esteban Puerta doubled in two more runs to push his team’s lead to 8-4.

FAU would only allow two more runs runs after Alex House left the game. The junior, who pitched seven innings, allowed just three hits and two runs during his team’s victory.

Puerta was 2-for-3 with a run and two RBIs, while senior Austin Langham finished 2-for-4 with two runs. Pages and Shouppe each finished with three RBIs each.

FAU will now await the result of Rice versus Old Dominion, of which the loser will play the Owls on May 26 at 4:00 p.m.

Hans Belot Jr. is the sports editor of the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him at @Don_Phenom_.