Sunday, May 11, 2003

UNO beats FIU, 15-5 in seven innings
Box Score

The Florida International baseball team lost to New Orleans 15-5 in seven innings Sunday afternoon in New Orleans. The game was called after seven due to a Sun Belt Conference 10-run rule. FIU still won the series two games to one.

Freshman infielder Luis Rivera led off the game for FIU with a single up the middle. After stealing second base, he reached home when freshman infielder Mike Lopez doubled to right field, giving the Golden Panthers a 1-0 lead. Junior outfielder Fernando Alvarez then walked and senior outfielder Solomon Frieder doubled to right center, scoring both baserunners and putting FIU up 3-0.

The Privateers wasted no time answering, as Joe Pietro led off the bottom half of the first inning with a home run. After back-to-back singles from Mike Forbes and Gabe Trevizo, Mike Sanchez singled himself, scoring both runners and equalizing the score at 3-3.

The Golden Panthers rebounded to lead off the next inning with a home run of their own, a shot to right field by freshman infielder Jimmy Bacon.

The score held until the bottom of the third, when UNO scored three runs to take its first lead of the game, 6-4. With runners on the corners, a wild pitch tied the score. Then, with runners on first and third again, Sanchez doubled down the right field line to knock in another run. Justin Guy later singled in another run.

Things didn’t improve for the Golden Panthers in the fourth, as Forbes led off the inning with a walk and Trevizo followed with a two-run home run, boosting the lead to 8-4.

Mike Rohde led off the bottom of the fifth with a double. A groundout from Josh Jones and a sacrifice fly from Guy then gave UNO a 9-4 lead.

FIU got one run back in the sixth. Freshman infielder Bryan Pullin singled to lead off the inning. After a walk and a strikeout, Frieder doubled again, this time to the gap in left center to score Pullin.

The rally was short-lived, as New Orleans benefited from back-to-back home runs to take an 11-5 lead. Mike Nuckles hit a home run following a foulout, and Brad Domreis followed with a home run of his own.

Three straight walks in the seventh loaded the bases for the Privateers, and another walk drawn by Domreis gave them a 12-5 lead. The next batter, Sanchez, walked also, pushing the lead to 13-5. Another walk equaled another run and a wild pitch ended the game.

The Golden Panthers return home to face Arkansas State in a three-game series next weekend. Opening pitch is set for 7:00 p.m. Friday night at University Park. The game will be broadcast on Radiate 88, FIU’s student radio station. The broadcast can be heard on 88.1 FM in Miami or on the Internet at http://wrgp.fiu.edu/sports.