Monday, March 11, 2002

Golden Panthers win sixth straight with 9-4 win over Iona

FIU (16-4) won their sixth consecutive game with a 9-4 win over Iona (6-4) on Monday night at University Park. FIU starter Luis Gazitua improved to 2-0 on the season. The Gaels kept the game close through the first five and half innings before Tommy Duenas hit the go-ahead home run in the sixth and as the Golden Panthers opened the game with four more runs in the seventh.

The Golden Panthers got the early lead scoring two runs in the first. Senior first baseman Brad Eldred hit a RBI single up the middle scoring Alex Ansoleaga.

The Gaels scored their first run on a Jason Motte sacrifice fly scoring David Mendez in the second.

In the fourth FIU added two more runs on Alex Suarez groundout scoring Hector Nunez and Dennis Diaz hit a RBI single to bring in Tommy Duenas for the 4-1 lead.

Iona scored three runs in the fifth to tie the game. Robert Michitsch hit a two-run home run to left field and Sean Naso scored on a Luke Lambo groundout to second.

In the sixth Duenas hit his fourth home run of the year for the go-ahead run to give FIU the 5-4 lead.

Eldred opened the Golden Panther's lead with a two-run home run in the seventh, his seventh of the year, to give FIU the 7-4 lead. Suarez added a RBI double knocking in Nunez for the 8-4 lead. Diaz collected his second RBI of the game with a single scoring Suarez.

FIU will return to action Wednesday night to face Miami(OH) at 7pm.