March 12, 2004

Final Stats

MIAMI, FL - Senior P.J. Lehman and freshman Cody Jacobs had three RBI apiece, and Florida International University took advantage of four Sacred Heart errors to score 12 unearned runs, as the Golden Panthers defeated the Pioneers 18-9 on Friday afternoon.

With the score tied at 1-1 going into the bottom of the fifth inning, Florida International plated three runs. After Jeff Skellenger drove home one off SHU starter Dan Scott with a single, the Golden Panthers got another on a throwing error and then one on a passed ball. The inning would signal the end of the day for Scott, who gave up just two earned runs on four hits with six strikeouts in his five innings of work.

The Pioneers got two back in the top of the sixth on an RBI ground out by Dave Kaloyanides and a throwing error by the FIU shortstop.

The Golden Panthers, 9-14, scored got six in the bottom of the sixth inning to break the game open. Rob McKee started the inning on the hill for the Pioneers and quickly got the first two batters out. He then gave up a double to Yahmed Yema and an RBI single to Michael Lopez. Skellenger followed with a single and McKee walked the next batter to load the bases. McKee then uncorked a wild pitch to allow a run to score, forcing SHU coach Nick Giaquinto to go to the bullpen for Chris Aldrich.

Aldrich walked the first batter he faced to load the bases again and Robert Duell came on in relief for the Pioneers. He walked the first batter he faced as well, forcing home a run. Brian Argon then reached on an error by the second baseman, scoring another run. Lehman then singled for the Golden Eagles to score two more unearned runs and give his team a 10-3 lead at the end of the innings.

SHU answered with three in the top of the seventh to cut into the Golden Panter lead. Ed Marotta drove home Josh Enos with a sacrifice fly to center, and Tim Lantz plated two more with a single up the middle.

FIU ended the Pioneer hopes with an eight-run bottom of the seventh, seven of them unearned thanks to a one-out error by Lantz at short. Jacobs had the big blow in the inning with a three-run homer to left center.

Senior Brian Rojee had a good day at the plate for the Pioneers, finishing a perfect four-for-four with a pair of RBI. The loss dropped his team to 0-11.