Troy University Athletics
Trojans Fall to Panthers, 8-2
3/8/2008 6:00:00 AM | Baseball
“Today just wasn't our day,” coach Bobby Pierce said. “We had several opportunities this afternoon and we didn't make them. We left too many runners stranded on base and that cost us at the end of the day.”
FIU (6-7, 1-1) struck first in the game with two runs in the first inning. Tim Wheeler got the first batter to fly out to center field. Ryan Mollica walked and Raimey Fuentes along with
Tyler Townsend followed with singles. John Petika singled to left, plating the two runners giving FIU the early 2-0 lead.
Just as the story last night, the Trojans (10-3, 1-1) answered the scoring inning by FIU. Bryan Miller drew a one out walk and advanced to third on a single to right field off the bat of Beau Brooks. Daryl Otwell grounded into the fielder's choice scoring Miller from third for the 2-1 FIU lead.
Petika got his third RBI on the day on a homerun in the top of the fourth inning when he belted a Wheeler fast ball over the wall in left center for the 3-1 advantage.
Brooks led off the bottom of the fifth with his second triple of the season to centerfield. He scored on a groundout to short by Daryl Otwell closing the gap to 3-2.
Brooks and Otwell reached base in the seventh but a groundout got the Panthers out of the inning.
Mollica singled up the middle in the eighth inning scoring Arrojo and Lozano, who singled earlier in the inning. Jorge Castillo and Javier Sujo each followed with RBI singles opening the flood gates and putting the game out of reach, 7-2. The Panthers added a run in the ninth for the 8-2 win.
“FIU is a good hitting club and they have showed it in these two games,” Pierce said. “We have to dust ourselves off and come back tomorrow and try to win the series.”
Wheeler (1-2) lost his second straight start going seven and 2/3 innings allowing seven runs on 10 Panther hits while walking two and striking out seven. Drew Hull tossed the final inning allowing one run on two hits.
Corey Polizzano (2-1) held the Trojan hitters at bay for the second straight year. He went six and 2/3 innings allowing only two runs on five hits. He walked eight batters while striking out six.
Brooks was 4-for-4 at the plate for the Trojans with two singles, a double and a triple. Otwell tallied two RBI.
The teams will play the rubber match Sunday afternoon with the first pitch starting at 1 p.m.
