Sunday, March 24, 2002

Golden Panthers take series with 12-10 win over New Mexico State

n the rubber match of the first conference series for both teams FIU (23-5, 2-1 SBC) defeated New Mexico State (19-9, 1-2 SBC) 12-10.
FIU starting pitcher Derek Decarlo improved to 5-0, after pitching six innings, allowing 14 hits, eight earned runs and striking out two, while relief pitcher Michael Mendez picked up his second save of the season, pitching three innings, giving up two runs and fanning out five.

The Golden Panthers put up two early runs in the top of the first. Bernie Gonzalez nailed a double to center field to bring in Alex Suarez who reached base on a triple to center field for the first score of the game. Brad Eldred followed with a RBI single to left field, scoring in Gonzalez. Suarez extended his 13-game hitting streak with his triple.

Down 2-0, the Aggies Kurt Wilkinson continued his ten game hitting streak with a solo homerun to right field. On a bases loaded situation with one out, FIU starting pitcher struckout Beau Blacken and made Dave Licini fly out to center field.

FIU added two runs in the second on a high pop up by Gonzalez that second baseman Gabe Veloz erred on as the ball hit his glove allowing Dennis Diaz and Suarex to score and and push their lead 4-1.

New Mexico State came back with two runs in the bottom half of the inning with three doubles and one single. Corey Harrington's doubled to left field scored in Hal Bisnett from second base and Harrington was knocked in by Veloz to cut FIU's lead 4-3.

FIU doubled their lead in the third as Tommy Duenas crossed home plate from third on a sacrifice center field fly by Diaz and Adam Summerell's single up the middle brought Skip Adams home for the 6-3 lead. Bernie Gonzalez lined a solo homerun to left field, his sixth of the year to one up FIU's lead 7-3.

FIU added their eighth run of the game in the top of the fifth off Skip Adams solo home run to right field, his fourth of the season and third in the series. Suarez lined a double down the left field line to knock in Summerell who reached base on a double as FIU tripled their lead over the Aggies 9-3.

New Mexico State's Ryan Kenning hit his 18th homerun of the season, this one to right field to cut FIU's lead 9-4.
With runners on the corners, Skip Adams hit a sac fly to center field to score in Eldred for a 10-4 lead.

The Aggies cut the Golden Panther lead into just two runs 10-8 in the bottom of the sixth as Bisnett's double to right field brought in Jesse French, but Veloz did the most damage with a three run homerun, his 12th of the year.

FIU got some breathing room in the seventh by scoring two runs for a 12-8 lead. Suarez, who reached base on an error scored on a single up the middle by Bustamante. Eldred scored on a throwing error by center fielder Wilkinson.

With bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth from a walk and back-to-back singles, French hit into a 6-4-3 double play that scored in Erik Winegarden from third to cut the FIU lead 12-9. Bisnett's single to left field broight in Blacken to further cut the lead, 12-10. Mendez made Wilkinson hit into a 4-3 groundout to end the game.

FIU will return to action Tuesday night in Homestead to face Ohio State.