Baseball Falls At FIU 7-1
Feb. 6, 2002
Miami, Fla. (www.hurricanesports.com) – – The University of Miami baseball team (2-2) dropped a 7-1 decision to Florida International (2-1) in front of 2,473 fans at a sold-out University Park.
FIU started off the scoring, 3-0, in the bottom of the first inning as the Golden Panthers tallied three singles and three walks on 42 pitches off UM starter and true freshman Brandon Camardese (0-1). After Skip Adams was struck out, Alex Ansoleaga reached with a line-drive single to centerfield. Daniel Bustamante and Brad Eldred each drew walks to load the bases. Hector Nunez drove in the first run with a bloop single to center. Alex Suarez then struck out for the second out of the inning. Tommy Duenas followed with a two RBI single up the middle, scoring Bustamante and Eldred. After Bernie Gonzalez walked to reload the bases, Dean Adams grounded out into a fielder’s choice.
The Golden Panthers added another run in the fourth, 4-0, as Gonzalez hit his first home run of the season over the scoreboard in left field.
The Hurricanes got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth, 4-1, when Danny Figueroa hit a double deep to centerfield scoring Javy Rodriguez from first base. Rodriguez reached safely with a bunt single to third base.
Camardese departed after the fourth inning allowing eight hits, four runs (all earned), three walks and three strikeouts. He was replaced by fellow true freshman Vince Bongiovanni.
FIU starter Josh Banks (1-0) departed following the fifth inning allowing three hits, one earned run, three walks and a career-high 11 strikeouts.
FIU came up with three more runs in the seventh to take a 7-1 lead off UM pitchers Bongiovanni and Luke DeBold. Eldred led off with a single. After Nunez flew out, Suarez reached on an error from second baseman Joey Hooft with Eldred moving to third. Duenas then came up with a single to score Eldred from third. Gonzalez followed with a two-RBI triple deep to centerfield to up the FIU lead six runs.
Bongiovanni went 2.1 innings with two hits, two earned runs, two walks and two strikeouts, while DeBold went 0.2 inning with three hits and one earned run. Freshman Shawn Valdes-Fauli entered the game for the eighth inning and retired the side, two by strikeout.
The Hurricanes return to action this weekend as the Florida Gators come to Mark Light Stadium for a three-game series beginning this Friday at 7 p.m. The Hurricanes and Gators continue the three-game series on Saturday at 7 p.m. and conclude on Sunday at 1 p.m. The Friday and Sunday games will be televised live by Fox Sports Net Florida.
The Saturday night Florida game will be highlighted by the return of former Hurricane All-American and current Florida Marlins catcher Charles Johnson. Johnson will have his Miami jersey number 23 retired on the outfield wall as well as throw out the games’ ceremonial first pitch.
For more information on the Hurricanes baseball team, as well as the rest of the Miami athletic program, log on to hurricanesports.com. For season and individual game tickets call 1-800 GO CANES or 305-284 CANES in Miami-Dade County.
