Saturday, April 5, 2003

Blue Raiders edge Golden Panthers 6-4 in Game 2
Box Score

In the second game of a three-game series, the Florida International baseball team fell 6-4 to Middle Tennessee State Saturday afternoon in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The Golden Panthers (26-10, 5-3) were held to their lowest run total in Sun Belt play this year as MTSU’s John Williams pitched nine innings of three-walk, seven-strikeout ball.

The Blue Raiders jumped out early with two runs in the first inning. Josh Archer hit an RBI single for their first run and Chris LeGuenec sacrifice flied for their second.

The game then developed into a pitcher’s duel, as neither pitcher gave up an earned run through the next four innings. After five innings, FIU’s Luis Gazitua had struck out six and given up just the early two runs while Williams had given up no earned runs and issued just one walk with four strikeouts.

The Golden Panthers did get on the board with an unearned run in fourth inning, drawing within a run. Senior infielder Skip Adams singled through the left side to start the rally. Sophomore Dennis Diaz then singled to right field, and a throwing error by the rightfielder advanced him to third and scored Adams from first.

FIU finally earned a run and tied the score in the top of the sixth. Freshman infielder Mike Lopez started the inning with a double down the left field line. Senior outfielder Adam Summerell then advanced him to third with a groundout and junior outfielder Ricardo Nanita singled up the middle to get him home.

However, the Blue Raiders broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth inning. Brett Carroll and Shane Kemp both hit two-run home runs to give MTSU a 6-2 lead.

The Golden Panthers scored twice more in the final two innings but couldn’t close the gap completely. In the eighth inning, freshman infielder Luis Rivera earned a hit for the seventeenth consecutive game, a single down the right line to ignite the offense. Lopez then walked and Summerell singled to right field. Rivera scored on the play due to an error by the rightfielder.

In the ninth, FIU continued the rally. Diaz led the inning off by reaching on an error and then got to third when senior catcher Michael New singled. Freshman outfielder Yahmed Yema scored Diaz with a fielder’s choice to end the scoring.

Sophomore starting pitcher Derek DeCarlo pitched in relief for FIU, giving up no hits, no walks and no runs while striking out five in three innings of work. The Golden Panthers and Blue Raiders conclude the series tomorrow afternoon at 12:00 p.m. Eastern.