FIU right-hander Eric Horstmann lost his slider three weeks ago.
The senior found it just in time to keep the Golden Panthers' postseason hopes alive as FIU defeated South Alabama 7-4 on Sunday at University Park Stadium.
With the win, FIU (19-34, 11-16 Sun Belt Conference) remained in the hunt for a spot in the Sun Belt tournament. The Golden Panthers and four other teams are jockeying for the bottom four of eight berths.
''We've come to the realization that when you're up against the wall and you have to win, you just got to find ways to do things,'' Horstmann said.
FIU found the ways to a win with sound pitching and a timely hit from Jorge Castillo.
Horstmann, who baffled the Jaguars (29-22, 14-13) with his slider, gave up four runs in 7 1/3 innings -- the longest start of his career. Reliever Jorge Marban (1-3) retired five of the six batters he faced to pick up the win.
With the score tied 4-4 in the bottom of the eighth inning, FIU leadoff batter Corey Lozano reached base on an infield hit off reliever Miles Ethridge.
Ryan Mollica got hit by a pitch, setting the stage for Castillo, FIU's RBI leader.
Castillo drilled a low, inside splitter down the right-field line for a double that scored Lozano with the go-ahead run. It was Castillo's 56th RBI of the season.
Steven Stropp then slapped a two-run single to left to increase the FIU lead to 7-4.
The Golden Panthers have three games remaining, beginning Thursday at home against Florida Atlantic.
FIU trails LouisianaLafayette and Middle Tennessee by two games, and Western Kentucky and South Alabama by three games.
FIU won the season series (which is the tiebreaker if needed) against Louisiana-Lafayette and South Alabama. FIU lost the season series to both Middle Tennessee and Western Kentucky.
