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Saturday, May 10, 2003
Golden Panthers outscore Privateers, 13-10
Box
Score
In a wild back-and-forth contest, the Florida International baseball team
defeated New Orleans 13-10 Saturday afternoon in New Orleans on the strength
of a three-run ninth inning. The win clinched a Sun Belt Conference Tournament
appearance for the Golden Panthers, putting them five games ahead of New
Orleans in the conference standings with four games remaining.
Sophomore right-hander Derek DeCarlo (Miami/Southridge) pitched in relief
for the second straight game, earning the win while closing out the game.
By improving his record to 5-0 this season, DeCarlo established a new Sun
Belt Conference record for consecutive wins with 16 and remained undefeated
in his collegiate career (16-0).
The game saw FIU (32-19, 10-10 SBC) build a lead on three separate occasions,
only to see UNO (21-29, 5-15 SBC) come back each time. Neither team could
shut down the other’s offense, as both teams went through five pitchers.
For the second consecutive game, the Golden Panthers scored in the first
inning to take an early lead. Freshman infielder Mike Lopez led things off
with a single up the middle, and freshman designated hitter Bryan Pullin
followed with a double. With runners on second and third, junior outfielder
Ricardo Nanita singled to left field, giving FIU a 1-0 lead.
New Orleans quickly tied the score in the bottom half of the inning. Lead-off
hitter Joe Pietro accounted for the run, hitting a solo home run to center
field.
FIU grabbed the lead back in the second. Freshman infielder Jimmy Bacon
singled and then junior catcher Mario Monreal hit his first double of the
season to put runners on second and third. Freshman infielder Luis Rivera
took advantage, hitting a sacrifice fly ball to deep center field, scoring
Bacon.
UNO grabbed its first lead of the game in the bottom of the second thanks
to a wild play which featured two FIU errors. After consecutive walks to
start the inning, Mike Sanchez attempted a sacrifice bunt. However, an off-target
throw to first created a collision at first, separating the fielder from
the ball. At that point, another off-target throw, this one to home plate,
scored both runners and gave the Privateers a 3-2 lead.
The seesaw affair continued, as FIU tied the score in the top of the third
before taking the lead in the fourth. After Pullin reached on an error in
the third inning, junior outfielder Fernando Alvarez tripled to right center,
sending Pullin home. Then, in the fourth inning, Lopez homered to center
field, giving the Golden Panthers a 4-3 lead.
FIU added to its lead in the sixth inning, scoring three runs to go up
7-3. Lopez ignited the offense with a single to right field. Pullin then
singled to center field and Nanita advanced Lopez to third on a fielder’s
choice. With runners on the corners, Alvarez walked to load the bases before
sophomore infielder Dennis Diaz hit a two-RBI single into the right-center
gap. Senior outfielder Solomon Frieder then singled up the middle to score
Alvarez.
The Privateers came back with a home run in the bottom half of the inning,
a two-run shot from Mike Rohde which cut the lead to 7-5. Sanchez then tripled
and a single from Justin Guy scored Sanchez, making the score 7-6.
The Golden Panthers scored a couple of runs in the seventh to give themselves
back some breathing room. Monreal led off the inning with the first home
run of his Golden Panther career. Rivera then reached on an error before
stealing second. After reaching third on a groundout, Rivera then got home
on a Pullin single to right center field.
An RBI fielder’s choice for Rivera gave FIU another run in the eighth.
The play was set up by a walk from senior infielder Skip Adams and then
a single from Monreal.
An RBI single from Petro and a sacrifice fly from Gabe Trevizo drew New
Orleans to within 10-8 in the eighth. The Privateers then tied the score
on a two-run double from Mike Forbes
FIU was once again able to answer, this time for good, retaking the lead
13-10 in the top of the ninth. Senior outfielder Adam Summerell started
the rally off with a single, and Diaz followed up with a walk. A groundout
from Frieder advanced them to third and second respectively, before Adams
was intentionally walked. With the bases loaded and two outs, Monreal came
through again with his second double of the game, clearing the bases and
giving FIU the lead. Monreal finished the game 4-for-6 with two doubles,
a home run and four RBI.
The Golden Panthers take on the Privateers in the final game of the series
Sunday afternoon at 12:00 p.m.
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