Miami Hurricanes Defeat FIU Panthers 7-3 at loanDepot Park in College Baseball Showdown

The University of Miami Hurricanes defeated the Florida International University Panthers 7-3 on Tuesday night at loanDepot Park.

LoanDepot Park, home of Major League Baseball’s Miami Marlins, hosted its first NCAA Division I college baseball game since opening in 2012.

FIU holds an 11-3 record this season, while Miami stands at 10-3. Neither team has played a conference game in 2025.

Game Summary

Miami starting pitcher Alex Giroux earned the win, throwing six innings while allowing three earned runs, striking out four, and hitting one batter over 79 pitches.

The Hurricanes’ pitching staff combined for nine innings, giving up three earned runs while walking one and striking out nine.

Miami took an early lead in the second inning when first baseman Todd Hudson hit an RBI single to left-center, scoring designated hitter Bobby Marsh to make it 1-0.

Frabio Peralta followed with an RBI single to left field, driving in catcher Tanner Smith for a 2-0 lead. Moments later, center fielder Michael Torres singled through the right side, plating Hudson to extend Miami’s advantage to 3-0.

FIU responded in the bottom of the third. Kareh Valentin doubled down the right-field line, scoring third baseman Javier Crespo to cut the deficit to 3-1.

Brylan West’s sacrifice fly to center brought home catcher Brendan Roney, narrowing Miami’s lead to 3-2.

A few batters later, FIU left fielder Austin Dearing lined an RBI single up the middle, scoring Crespo and tying the game at 3-3.

Miami regained control in the top of the sixth when third baseman Daniel Cuvet launched a grand slam over the left-field wall. His 368-foot home run, hit at a 20-degree launch angle with an exit velocity of 111.7 mph, gave the Hurricanes a 7-3 lead.

Big stage, big moments ???????? pic.twitter.com/pd42b3SpXT

— Miami Hurricanes Baseball (@CanesBaseball) March 5, 2025

Reliever Jackson Cleveland took the mound in the ninth for Miami, replacing AJ Ciscar. Cleveland retired the side in order, securing the win by getting Crespo to fly out to Torres in center field.

Pitching Performances

FIU starter Logan Runde pitched two innings, allowing four hits, three earned runs, and three walks.

Reliever Tracen Cameron took the loss, surrendering four earned runs on two hits and a walk in one inning of work during the sixth.

The FIU pitching staff combined for nine innings, giving up seven earned runs on eight hits, walking six, and striking out eight.

Upcoming Schedule

FIU will play at home against Florida Atlantic University on March 7 at 6:30 p.m. EST. 

Miami will play Villanova University on March 5 at home at 6 p.m. EST. 

Historical Notes & LoanDepot Park’s Role in College Baseball

The University of Miami holds a dominant all-time record of 106-31 against FIU and has won seven of eight neutral-site meetings between the programs. Their last neutral-site contest took place in February 2004 at the Homestead Sports Complex, where No. 5-ranked Miami defeated FIU 9-7.

This matchup marked the first NCAA Division I college baseball game at loanDepot Park since it opened in 2012. The venue previously hosted the Miami Beach Bowl from 2014 to 2016 before the event relocated to Frisco, Texas, where it was renamed the Frisco Bowl in 2017.

LoanDepot Park has also welcomed several non-MLB baseball events. The Savannah Bananas played a two-game exhibition series there from March 1-2. In November 2024, the stadium hosted the Choques de Gigantes tournament, which featured teams from Venezuela, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. The ballpark will be an important site for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, hosting Pool D games from March 6-11, along with the quarterfinals, semifinals, and championship game.

For more on the Miami-FIU rivalry and the significance of loanDepot Park hosting this game, read World Baseball Network’s preview of the Crosstown Showdown preview.

LoanDepot Park will host Pool D of the 2026 World Baseball Classic with the Netherlands, Venezuela, Israel, the Dominican Republic and a Qualifier nation from March 6-11. 

LoanDepot Park will also host the Quarterfinals of the 2026 WBC and will be on March 13 with the Pool C runner-up playing the Pool D winner and the Pool D runner-up will play the Pool C winner on March 14. 

The 2026 WBC semifinals will be on March 15 and on March 16 at loanDepot Park alongside the championship game on March 17.

 

Photo: MiamiHurricanes.com / Cuvet Delivers Go-Ahead Grand Slam, Miami Topples FIU