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Friday, February 8, 2002
FIU wins in the 10th 5-4 against Florida
A&M
 voiding
their lost in four years to Florida A&M, Florida International
(3-1) defeated the Rattlers 5-4 in 10 innings Friday night at
University Park. Adam Summerell scored the wining run
as Hector Penate hit a grounder to third and the ball
got past the catcher. Carlos Sanchez pitched the 10th
to earn his first win as a Golden Panther. FIU has not lost to
FAMU since February 15, 1998 when the Rattlers won 16-8.
The Rattlers scored first as Alcides Segui tagged on
a Chris Branning sacrifice fly to left field for the 1-0
lead in the top of the first. FIU tied the score in the bottom
of the inning on a Brad Eldred single to right field scoring
Alex Ansoleaga from third.
FIU starter Mike Baluja worked himself out of a jam
in the second and third innings. In the second with the bases
loaded with one out, he got Nick Parker to ground out
into a double play. In the third, Manuel Quinones singled
and advanced to third on a double by Branning double to left
field. With one out Baluja struck out Vince Palmer and
got Ben Morgan to end t he inning on a ground out to second.
In the fourth Eldred put the Golden Panthers ahead with his
second home run of the year, a solo shot to right field. FAMU
tied the score in the fifth as Quinones hit a RBI single scoring
Parker for the 2-2 score.
FIU took the lead in fifth on a Alex Ansoleaga single knocking
in Skip Adams who recahed on a single. The Golden Panthers
opened the lead to 4-2 when Daniel Bustamante tripled
to center scoring Ansoleaga.
Florida A&M once again tied the score as Morgan singled
and scored on a Scott Holmes single. Baluja was relieved
by freshman Carlos Alvarez, making his first appearance
as a Golden Panther. Holmes scored the tying run when Alvarez
overthrew Eldred at first. Baluja finished pitching 5.1 innings
giving up eight hits and three earned runs while striking out
three for the no-decision.
A. J. Patrick pitched himself out of a jam in the seventh
when Bustamante grounded into the 643 double play to end the
Golden Panthers opportunity to score with the bases loaded.
After a Segui walk, a Branning double followed by a Palmer
intentional walk, the Rattlers loaded the bases with one out.
Relief pitcher Luis Gazitua struck out Morgan and got
pinch hitter John Curry to line out to third base and
end the inning.
With the bases loaded after three straight walks and with
no outs, pinch hitter Penate hit a grounder to third and Summerell
scored as the ball got past the catcher for the winning run.
FIU and FAMU will return to action tomorrow at 1pm as Alan
Clark will make his first start in two years for the Golden Panthers. |