Sunday, February 16, 2003

Golden Panthers sweep Siena with 17-5 win
Box Score

Exploding for eight runs in the first two innings, the Florida International baseball team defeated Siena 17-5 Sunday afternoon at University Park to sweep the series. Senior third-baseman Skip Adams went 4-for-4 with six runs batted in and three runs scored, and the Golden Panthers scored in every inning for the first time since defeating Wagner 22-3 last year (March 9).

The game also marked the successful return of junior pitcher Andrew Edwards to the Golden Panther lineup. Starting in his first appearance of the season, the right-hander allowed two hits, no runs and struck out three in two innings of work. Edwards missed most of last year after suffering a season-ending elbow injury in the opener.

With two on in the top of the first, junior outfielder Ricardo Nanita hit an RBI single up the middle and advanced to second on an error. Junior outfielder Fernando Alvarez then drew a walk to load the bases. Adams followed up by singling down the left field line, scoring two, but Alvarez was gunned down trying to return to second. With Adams on first, freshman infielder Luis Rivera singled, moving him to third. Senior outfielder Solomon Frieder then hit an RBI single down the left field line to give FIU a 4-0 lead.

The second inning proved just as productive for the Golden Panthers. With the bases loaded, Adams got plunked to drive in one. Rivera then singled, as Siena shortstop Blake Hanan couldn’t make the play at first in time, giving FIU a 6-0 advantage. Frieder knocked in two more with a hit to right center.

FIU then gave up two runs in each of the next two innings, but answered with two runs in the bottom half each time. Leading 6-2 in the third, Adams singled again, bringing home two more runs. After getting the lead cut into once again in the fourth, Frieder scored on an error and freshman infielder Bryan Pullin knocked home another run to answer.

The Golden Panthers scored a single run in the next three innings. With the lead at 8-4 in the fifth, senior outfielder Adam Summerell hit a home run, his third of the year, into deep left center. He then followed that up in the sixth inning, getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to earn his second RBI of the game. After Siena scored in the seventh, making the score 10-5, Adams scored an unearned run in the bottom half on a wild pitch.

Nanita hit the second home run of the game, the first of his Golden Panther career, and Adams hit another RBI single in the eighth inning to close out the scoring for both teams.

FIU used six pitchers in the victory, with senior lefthander Carlos Sanchez (3-0) getting the win. The Golden Panthers next host Florida Atlantic Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. at University Park.