Friday, January 24, 2003

Golden Panthers put Rattlers on Ice in Opening Night win
Box Score

Photo by Geoff Anderson Sophomore pitcher Derek DeCarlo hurled only four innings for the Golden Panthers, who won 13-2 Friday night.

raving frigid temperatures Friday night at University Park Stadium, the Florida International University baseball team defeated Florida A&M 13-2 on opening night. Over 600 fans braved the elements to watch senior left-hander Derek Taylor earn his sixth career win when the game was called due to the weather in the seventh inning. Taylor pitched three innings (3 H, 0 ER, 0 R) in relief of sophomore right-hander Derek DeCarlo (4 IP, 2 ER, 3 SO).

FIU was led offensively by two freshmen, shortstop Luis Rivera and first baseman Bryan Pullin. Rivera went 2-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored, and four RBI. Pullin went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Another newcomer, junior outfielder Ricardo Nanita, recorded two RBI on two bases-loaded walks.

The Golden Panthers got off to a big lead early, scoring six runs in a wild first inning. Rivera reached first base on a fielding error and was advanced when Pullin was hit by a pitch. Senior outfielder Solomon Frieder reached first on a fielder's choice, Rivera advanced to third, and Pullin made it safely to second on a throwing error. Rivera scored after Rattler pitcher Mike Sills walked Nanita with the bases loaded. Senior catcher Michael New knocked in another run when hit by a pitch, and two more runs scored when senior third baseman Skip Adams reached base on another fielding error. With the score 4-0, Rivera singled to left field, driving in the final two runs of the inning. By the end of the first inning, Sills had given up six runs, committed an error and hit three batters.

The game got out of hand in the third, when the Golden Panthers added six more runs to answer a Rattler score. Rivera started the Golden Panther scoring by doubling to right field, bringing home freshman outfielder Brian Aragon and Adams. Pullin then hit an RBI single before Sills was pulled. Following a base-loading walk to Frieder, Nanita drew his second walk, scoring Rivera. Frieder and Pullin both scored after a throwing error.

Florida International faces Florida A&M in the final game of the series tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at University Park Stadium.