FIU sweeps Rutgers in opening series of 2014

By Alejandro Solana/Staff Writer

The FIU Baseball team opened up its 2014 season this weekend hosting Rutgers University from FIU Baseball Stadium. The Panthers hosted the Scarlet Knights for a four game homestand starting Friday night, a double header Saturday, and the final game of the series sunday.

The first pitch of the Panthers season, thrown at 5:57 p.m. Friday night, was thrown by junior Mike Franco to Rutgers’ leadoff hitter, freshman Mike Carter. Franco, who started 14 games all of last season for FIU, was able to give the Panthers 4.1 innings, giving up eight hits and two earned runs.

In the bottom of the first inning, the Panthers were able to load the bases after sophomore Howie Brey of the Scarlet Knights walked three FIU batters. Brian Portelli, a sophomore transfer from the University of Michigan, had the season’s first RBI after getting hit by a pitch in his first ever at bat for FIU with the bases loaded, bringing in short stop Julius Gaines.

FIU found themselves trailing 6-2 going into the bottom of the sixth inning, after the Scarlet Knights were able to put together back to back three run innings in the top of the fifth and sixth.

It wasn’t until the bottom of the sixth inning that FIU was able to rally and put more runs on the board due to bad pitching from Rutgers. The bases were loaded once again for FIU with Roche Woodard up to bat, who was walked bringing in a run. In his first ever collegiate at bat, JC Escarra was hit by a pitch bringing in another run, closing FIU’s deficit to just two. Later in the inning, with the bases still loaded, leadoff hitter Tyler Hibbert tightened the game up even more after a sac fly to centerfield giving him his first RBI of the season. Next up was Gaines who hammered a hanging breaking ball down the third base line bringing in a runner, tying the game at six all. Another wild pitch thrown by the Rutgers pitcher brought in what would be the winning run for FIU, lifting them to a 7-6 lead.

Five of FIU’s seven runs were scored in the bottom of the sixth inning friday night after a total collapse from the Rutgers bullpen.

In the top of the eighth inning, senior Mike Gomez was called from the bullpen to make his first save attempt of the season. Gomez, who had tommy john surgery last off season, pitched two innings and recorded the save, number 18 in his career.

“My role along with [senior pitcher] Albert [Cardenas] is being closer, so if that means i have to do two innings saves, then thats what I have to do.” said Gomez after the game.

He also commented on how his arm felt after the his first game back since surgery.

“It feels amazing. There were a some nerves going in but I’ve been waiting for this moment since March, it was mostly excitement and emotional. It was nice to finally come back,” Gomez said.

Senior Mitchell Davis out of the bullpen picked up the win for FIU, striking out three Scarlet Knights, the most for any Panther pitcher of the night.

Doubleheader Saturday

Saturday turned out to be a much easier day for the Panthers, despite having to play a doubleheader. FIU won both games easily, the first 13-1 and the second game of the doubleheader, which was only seven innings, 5-0.

In the first game of the double header, senior Ty Sullivan picked up his first win of the season in his first outing, after he pitched two innings giving up no earned runs, no hits, striking out two Scarlet Knight batters.

The bats were out early helping to take some pressure off of the FIU pitching staff, as the Panthers were able to record 20 hits on the night. FIU scored four runs in the first inning and six runs in the bottom of the third behind 10 different Panthers who were able to get into the hit column.

Gaines had another solid game for the Panthers going 3-6 on the day with three RBI’s and two runs scored. Another junior, Aramis Garcia, FIU’s star catcher went 3-4 with two RBI’s and also two runs scored. Two other players for the Panthers, junior Josh Anderson and freshmen JC Escarra also crossed home plate twice for the Panthers.

In the second game of the double header, FIU was able to hold on to the shut out behind junior Mike Ellis (1-0) who got the victory for the team. Ellis pitched five innings, allowing zero runs on just two hits. The junior, Ellis, also struck out five Scarlet Knight batters. Rutgers’ Donovan Waller was credited with the loss after giving up three runs in the first inning.

It was FIU who jumped out to an early lead again and never looked back. Through out the first three games of the series, FIU outscored the Scarlet Knights 8-0 in the first inning, and 17-0 in the first four innings combined.

Finishing Off the Sweep

After defeating Rutgers in their first three games of the series, Sunday saw FIU with a chance to complete the sweep in their first series of the 2014 campaign.

On Sunday, it was much of the same story for FIU scoring in the first inning again after Garcia drove in senior Tyler Hibbert, giving him a total of four RBI’s for the series.

The Panthers scored first in every game in the series, outscoring the Scarlet Knights 9-0 in the first inning. “That is big, because it takes the pressure off your pitcher for the rest of the game. The hardest run to score is the first run of the game, its the breaking of the ice.” said coach Turtle Thomas after the game.

It was Garcia who had another impressive day for FIU, surprising nobody, going 3-4 on the day with the RBI in the first. Gaines also had a nice day with the bat, finishing 1-4 with two RBI’s.

Going into the bottom of the eighth inning, the game was tied 3-3 when the Panthers were able to pull off a double steal to take a 4-3 lead. Josh Anderson started off the inning with a single to left, then stole second base, and later advanced to third on a wild pitch. Senior Zach Sweety was then walked to put runners on the corners with one out. Later in the inning, Sweety successfully stole second base, causing the Rutgers catcher Michael Zavala to throw to second, forgetting about the runner on third. Anderson took advantage of the bad throw by Zavala and was able to steal home to give FIU a 4-3 lead late. Brandon Gomez, a freshmen from Miami Lakes, later hit an RBI double bringing in Sweety pushing the Panthers’ lead to 5-3.

In the top of the ninth, the game became interesting when freshmen Williams Durruthy began the inning putting two runners on 1st and 2nd base for the Scarlet Knights. Freshmen Gunner McNeil, at the time playing first base, was moved to pitcher replacing Durruthy. “I wasn’t expecting to be moved to pitcher, but when my coaches told me to start throwing hard and getting loose, I knew that was what was coming next.” said McNeil after the game.

McNeil was able to record the save after Rutgers freshmen Mike Carter grounded out to second baseman Edwin Rios stranding the tying run on third base.

It was the freshmen Cody Crouse who had the start for FIU, pitching in five total innings allowing just four hits, two runs, and one strikeout in his first ever collegiate start. The win went to senior M. Gomez who entered the game in the top of the seventh inning replacing Mitchell Davis. The save was credited to Gunner McNeil in a 5-4 final. Rutgers’ Tom Marcinczyk was credited with the loss, dropping Rutgers, a team who had over 13 players make their first collegiate appearances this series, to an (0-4) start to their season.

As for FIU, they finish off the sweep of the Scarlet Knights in exciting fashion and start off their season (4-0). The Panthers host Stetson University tonight with the opening pitch set for 5 p.m. from FIU Baseball Stadium.

 

-alejandro.solana@fiusm.com