Sunday, April 20, 2003

Golden Panthers topped by ULL again, 4-1
Box Score

The Florida International baseball team lost 4-1 to Lousiana-Lafayette Sunday afternoon in Lafayette, La. The loss gave the Ragin’ Cajuns the series, two games to one, and the lead in the all-time series, 11 games to 10.

ULL left-hander Austin Faught dominated the early going, retiring the first nine batters he faced, with five of them striking out. Faught finished with a complete game, striking out seven and allowing just four hits, one run and zero walks.

The Ragin’ Cajuns grabbed an early lead for the second straight game, scoring two unearned runs in the first inning. Because of an earlier error, Bryan Sneed was able to hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Dallas Morris from third. ULL added another run when Phillip Hawke followed Sneed up with an RBI single.

FIU finally got on the board in the fifth inning, as junior outfielder Ricardo Nanita hit a towering home run to right field, cutting the score to 2-1.

Junior right-hander Arthur Santos (Miami/Barbara Goleman) gave up no earned runs and no walks through six innings, until Brad Saloom hit a two-run home run down the left field line to give ULL the final 4-1 margin. Santos finished with no walks and just two earned runs through seven and a third innings pitched.

The Golden Panthers resume action next weekend at home against New Mexico State. Friday night’s game is scheduled for a 7:00 p.m. start and will be broadcast on Radiate 88, FIU’s student radio station. The student broadcast can be heard on 88.1 FM in Miami or on the Internet at http://wrgp.fiu.edu/sports.