Friday, May 24, 2002

South Alabama, Mulhern stop FIU's Sun Belt Tournament title run, 16-5

ell-rested South Alabama ends FIU's Sun Belt Conference title run, 16-5, at Stanky Field in Mobile, AL. The Jaguars Sam Smith (8-1) threw a complete game and received 19 hits to help him earn the win.

It looked like it was going to be a slugfest to start the game. South Alabama (41-16) smacked two solo home runs in the top of the first by Erik Smallwood and Ryan Mulhern, his second against FIU (41-18).

The Golden Panthers got both runs back when Adam Summerell opened with a single and Dean Adams brought him in with a double. Adams went to third on a Bernie Gonzalez single, then scored when Gonzalez got caught in a rundown stealing.

After the Jaguars scored two more in the third inning, Bustamante continued his hot hitting with a double to right field that scored Summerell and Adams for a 4-4 tie.

South Alabama would not let up, though, as Smallwood hit his second homer of the evening in the fourth, this time a two-run shot, scoring Kevin Sytko. USA added another in the fifth, before Mulhern hit his second homer of the night in the sixth, also a two-run shot and a 9-4 advantage.

Golden Panther starter Matthew Crandall (3-2) pitched six innings, allowing nine runs on 12 hits, with five strikeouts.

FIU couldn't figure out the Jaguar ace, Sam Smith, after the third inning, with the exception of Summerell, who hit his third home run of the tournament, a solo bomb in the eighth.

There was some excitement in the ninth inning, as assistant coach Mark Calvi and pitcher Carlos Alvarez were ejected for arguing with the umpire. The Jaguars would go on to score five runs in the ninth, including Mulhern's third home run, which was a single game Sun Belt Tournament record.

"We ran out of pitching," said head coach Danny Price. "South Alabama did an excellent job. With our RPI, we should be in good shape for a regional bid."

USA advances to the championship game to face New Mexico State tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. (ET). FIU will have to await its post-season hopes and watch the NCAA Tournament selection show on ESPN2 on Monday at 12:30 p.m.