Florida Atlantic crushes Florida International 20-0

Wednesday March 5, 2003

Florida Atlantic crushes Florida International 20-0
Box Score

Florida Atlantic University handed the Florida International baseball team its second worst defeat ever Wednesday night at University Park, beating the Golden Panthers 20-0. The loss was the team’s worst since a 22-1 defeat at the hands of Miami on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1992. Going into Wednesday’s game, FIU hadn’t been shutout in 78 straight games, last being blanked 6-0 by USC in the NCAA Super Regional on June 2, 2001. The 20 runs given up were the fifth most in team history, with South Carolina being the last team to put 20 up on May 21, 1998.

FAU scored six runs in the top of the second inning. Rusty Brown started things off with a home run to left field. Then with the bases loaded, Alex Fonseca hit a sacrifice fly ball to deep center. Following a Mike Murray RBI single, Mike Cox doubled to right center, scoring three and making the score 6-0.

They added five runs to their lead in the third inning. With the bases loaded, Robert Orton singled down the right field line for two runs batted in. Then with the bases loaded again later in the inning, Shaen O’Connor scored on a balk and Jeff Fiorentino knocked in two more runs with a double to left center.

The suffering continued for the Golden Panthers in the fourth inning, as FAU scored twice more to take a 13-0 lead. Three consecutive batters reached base on balls, and then Murray singled in two runs.

The FAU lead reached 18 runs in the seventh inning. Tim Mascia singled in another runner and so did Ryan to make it 15-0. At that point, Orton hit a three-run home run. Orton finished the game 2-for-4 with three runs scored, a home run, and six RBI.

For good measure, the Owls added two more runs in the ninth to finish the game off. After three consecutive walks, two FAU runners scored on back-to-back sacrifice flies.

FIU’s best scoring opportunity came in the sixth inning when the team managed to load the bases, but a strikeout ended the threat. The Golden Panthers next host Sacred Heart Friday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. before also facing Pittsburgh that evening at 7:00 p.m. at University Park.