MIAMI (Interstat) — Zach Kilby and two relievers combined for 10 2/3 innings of no-hit baseball out of the bullpen as Florida Atlantic outlasted Florida International 5-3 in 11 innings on Saturday at FIU Baseball Stadium.

The game, a tense affair that saw the Owls strand 12 baserunners and the Golden Panthers leave 11 on, was decided by a chaotic top of the 11th. With the score tied 3-3, Florida Atlantic’s Max Lipsey led off with a single, stole second and advanced to third on a walk. Nico Romano was then hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs.

Reliever Bryce Turner was replaced by Jordan Vargas, who induced a ground ball from Ben Leroux. Third baseman Aidan Cohall misplayed it for an error, allowing Lipsey to score the go-ahead run. The inning then unraveled further for Florida International on a wild pitch by Vargas that allowed two more runs to cross the plate, providing the final margin.

The late offensive outburst was necessary only because of a masterful performance by the Florida Atlantic bullpen. Starter Tyler Murphy allowed two earned runs over four innings before giving way to Kilby with one on in the fifth. Kilby, named the top star for Florida Atlantic, extinguished that threat and proceeded to fire four hitless innings, allowing one earned run while striking out four. Kyzer Smith followed with 2 2/3 perfect innings of relief, striking out three. Bryan Boully recorded the final out on a strikeout with two runners on in the 11th to seal the victory.

The most important part of the game was the collective effort of the Owls’ relievers. From the moment Kilby entered in the fifth inning, Florida International managed just two baserunners against him, Smith and Boully over the final six frames, with both reaching on walks. This dominant stretch allowed Florida Atlantic to weather its own offensive struggles and eventually break through in the 11th.

Florida International had taken an early lead, scoring once in the first inning on an RBI single by Andrew Ildefonso, who finished the day 4 for 5. The Golden Panthers added a run in the fifth on a solo home run by Mario Trivella and another in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by pinch-hitter Caden Sammler, which scored Aris Rivera after he tripled.

Florida Atlantic chipped away, tying the game in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Ian Collier and taking a brief lead in the same inning on an RBI single by Lipsey. Florida International tied it in the eighth to set the stage for extra innings.

George Adams started for Florida International and struck out eight over five innings, allowing three earned runs. The Golden Panthers used six relievers, with Tyrus Riley and Enrique Sierra providing scoreless outings before the 11th-inning collapse.

With the win, Florida Atlantic improved to 8-6 overall. Florida International fell to 7-9. The teams conclude their three-game series on Sunday in Boca Raton.