Tuesday March 18, 2003

FIU takes big lead, holds on to beat Rutgers 12-10
Box Score

FIU scores five runs in two innings and overcomes Rutgers seven-run eighth to win 12-10 at University Park.

Luis Gazitua wins his first game of the year in relief. Gazitua pitched four innings, striking out six, while giving up only one run.

Jimmy Bacon led the Golden Panther attack, going 4-for-5 from the plate, with two RBI and two runs. Bacon also hit his first triple of the season.

Rutgers (2-9) opened the game with a run in the first, while FIU (20-7) responded with two in the bottom half of the inning.

After the Scarlet Knights scored another in the third to tie the game, FIU exploded in the bottom half for five runs to take an 8-3 advantage.

Ricardo Nanita singled in his second RBI of the game and Jimmy Bacon tripled to right center to plate two more. Fernando Alvarez homered to right field with Bacon on third to round out the third inning.

Gazitua relieved starter Ammer Cabrera in the fourth and pitched four strong innings. The Golden Panthers would go to build a 12-3 advantage, thanks to five more runs in the seventh inning.

Rutgers would charge back in the eighth, scoring seven runs on seven hits. Edgar Ramirez would close the door on the Scarlet Knights, pitching the last inning and two-thirds, allowing no runs. It was Ramirez's fourth save of the season.

FIU will now start Sun Belt Conference play at Arkansas-Little Rock on Friday at 8:00 p.m. (Eastern).