Wednesday, February 5, 2003

Rival Miami hands FIU first loss of season
Box Score

14th-ranked Miami (Fla.) continued to put a hex on Florida International University Wednesday night, handing the Golden Panthers their first loss of the season, 12-7, in Coral Gables. FIU was plagued by mental mistakes, which included three errors, in the loss.

In the top of the first, Miami retired the first three batters, getting senior outfielder Adam Summerell to line out to center, throwing freshman infielder Bryan Pullin out on a bunt attempt and striking out junior outfielder Ricardo Nanita.

Miami’s first batter of the year, Danny Figueroa, reached in the bottom half with a single, advanced to second on a balk, stole third, and then scored on a Gaby Sanchez sac fly. The Hurricanes increased their lead to two runs when Brian Barton hit a triple to score Jim Burt. With Barton on third, Matt Barket flied out to end the inning.

Miami added two more runs in the third, thanks to an inside-the-park home run by Adam Ricks, scoring Paco Figueroa. There was confusion on the play, as several players thought it was a ground-rule double, but both runners continued running, scoring on the play, and the ball was eventually ruled live.

The Golden Panthers got on the board in the fourth inning. Nanita got hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and then freshman infielder Fernando Alvarez advanced him to third and got to second with a single and a Miami throwing error. Senior catcher Michael New knocked them both home with a single to left-center.

The Hurricanes answered in the bottom half with two more runs. Danny and Paco Figueroa both reached home on a fielding error.

The sixth inning proved productive for the Golden Panthers, as they scored five runs to grab the lead. Alvarez led off the inning with a solo home run, his first of the year, to cut the score to 6-3. Freshman infielder Luis Rivera added another run with an RBI single up the middle to score senior infielder Skip Adams. Sophomore infielder Dennis Diaz hit a single and Summerell walked to load the bases. Pullin then hit a three-run double to give FIU the lead.

Pullin was tossed from the game two batters later, when he was thrown out at the plate, for FIU’s final out of the inning. Pullin was charged with throwing his arms up at Miami catcher Erick San Pedro on the play.

Miami answered quickly again, scoring the final six runs of the game in the bottom half of the sixth. Ricks knocked in two runs with a single, Sanchez hit an RBI single, Greg Dini doubled to score two and Barton hit an RBI single, finishing the scoring.

“It was an emotional game,” FIU head coach Danny Price said. “We grabbed the lead, but we just couldn’t hold onto it. We have to learn to keep our cool in situations like that.”

The high-scoring game left nine pitchers in its wake. Miami reliever J.D. Cockroft ended up with the win, pitching 3.1 innings and striking out three. The Golden Panthers started freshman walk-on Frank Gonzalez who only lasted two innings. In total, the Golden Panthers used six pitchers. Junior Arthur Santos was credited with the loss.

FIU next travels to Orlando, Fla. this Saturday to take on the Golden Knights of Central Florida. Gametime is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.