Wednesday, May 22, 2002

Eldred, Summerell and Banks lead FIU to big Sun Belt Tournament win over New Orleans

IU dominates their first game at the Sun Belt Conference tournament, 12-1, over New Orleans at Stanky Field in Mobile, AL. The game ended after seven innings, due to a new conference rule that stops games after seven innings if one team has a lead of 10-or-more. The 11-run win was the most ever by the Golden Panthers at the Sun Belt tournament.

Starter Josh Banks pitched six strong innings, allowing three hits and striking out eight in his first start since February 22. Banks had a no-hitter through five and 1/3 innings, when UNO's Justin Guy hit a single through the right side. The right-hander had previously retired 11 straight, after he gave up a walk in the second inning.

"My fastball was the main key," said Banks. "I could move it in and out and didn't really get tired (although it was his first start in three months).

Brad Eldred started things off in the first inning, nailing a two-run homer over the left field wall, scoring Dean Adams. It marked the 28th home run of Eldred's season to give him the all-time Sun Belt Conference single season record, passing Western Kentucky's Rob Tomberlin. The bomb was off New Orleans (30-27) starting pitcher Mark Stander, who previously held FIU to two hits on May 10 at University Park.

Stander didn't fare much better against the red-hot Golden Panther (40-16) bats in the second. After Dennis Diaz and Skip Adams reached base, Adam Summerell hit his eighth home run of the season. Three batters later, Eldred drilled a shot down the left field line to bring in Dean Adams for a 6-0 cushion.

FIU manufactured another run in the forth. Diaz led off the inning with a single, then proceeded to steal second and third base on Privateer catcher Mike Sanchez. The speed paid off as Dean Adams singled in Diaz. That run took care of Stander, as UNO head coach Randy Bush pulled him in favor of younger brother Jeff.

Chris Adams ended Banks' shutout in the sixth inning, hitting a single through the left side, as Diaz was covering second base. Things could have gotten worse, but Summerell made a great catch off a shot by Brad Domreis, running into the wall.

Summerell wasn't done yet, though, smacking his second home run of the game, a solo shot over the left center field wall in the sixth inning. FIU continued with the long ball in the seventh, as Eldred extended his Sun Belt record to 29 home runs, hitting another one to left field. It was a two-run blast, scoring Solomon Frieder.

"(Stander) shut us down the first time," said Eldred, the Sun Belt Player of the Year. "(The team) was all pumped up to face him again."

Tommy Duenas then ended the game nailing his 11th homer of the year, scoring Bernie Gonzalez, for the final 12-1 score. For the game, all but one FIU starter reached base. The win moved FIU over the 40-plus win plateau for the sixth consecutive season.

"Banks gave us everything in the world we could ask for," said head coach Danny Price. "At the beginning of the day, (the coaches) were hoping for four good innings from Josh, then we saw how well he was going and thought he could go all the way. (Stander) is a great pitcher and competitor, but we hit the ball well today."

Tomorrow, FIU will play the winner of the South Alabama/Middle Tennessee game at approximately 7:30 p.m. (ET).