FIU baseball edges Rice in Conference USA tourney opener

Sophomore JC Escarra hit a two-run home run and finished with three RBI, and senior Brian Portelli went 3 for 5 with two runs scored to lead FIU past top-seeded Rice 6-5 in the opening round of the Conference USA tournament in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

The eighth-seeded Panthers (26-29) will next face Texas-San Antonio (33-23) in the winner’s bracket at 5 p.m. Thursday.