March 18, 2008

Box Score

MIAMI, Fla. - Despite starting with their customary early lead, the Dolphins could not hold off a huge second inning onslaught as the JU baseball team fell to Florida International, 10-4, Tuesday evening in the series finale at University Park.

JU (13-4) scored four runs in the first two innings but managed only two hits in the remainder of the contest.

FIU (9-10), which dropped two games at JU to begin the series, took the finale after riding a seven-run second inning and got a dazzling performance by Eric Horstmann.

"It's always tough to play a mid-week game like this but it's not an excuse," said JU head coach Terry Alexander. "Several teams have had rough travel schedules and its something everyone will have to deal with. I'm glad to see some old faces on the hill for us and our bullpen did a nice job of keeping us within striking distance."

Senior Matt Davis (0-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing six runs on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts in 1.1 innings. The Dolphin bullpen consisting of freshmen Matt Loosen and Steve Eagerton, junior Josh Burrows and sophomore Glenn Witkowski combined for five innings of scoreless relief.

Horstmann (1-0) earned the win after allowing one run on four hits with two walks and seven strikeouts in 7.2 innings of relief. Horstmann entered the contest in the first inning and after allowing a run in the second, retired the side in six consecutive innings. Corey Lozano led the Golden Panthers by going 2-for-5 with a double, a home run and three RBI. Ryan Mollica also finished with multiple hits for FIU.

The Dolphins jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first when junior right fielder Thomas Myers recorded a sacrifice fly, freshman left fielder Chris Connelly hit an RBI double and junior catcher Brad Simmons tallied an RBI single.

Senior center fielder Kevin Ferreira led off the contest with a walk and stole second base before moving to third on a passed ball. After sophomore second baseman Chuck Opachich drew a walk, Myers hit a high fly to right to score Ferreira. Junior first baseman Jeremy Gillan drew a walk in the next at-bat and Connelly followed with a double to left to score Opachich. In the next at-bat, Simmons pulled a ball through the right side to score Gillan.

FIU cut the margin to 3-1 in the bottom of the first when Tyler Townsend hit an RBI single back up the middle with two outs.

JU pushed the lead to 4-1 in the top of the second when Ferreira hit an RBI triple, the first of the season by the Dolphins. Freshman third baseman Jamaal Hawkins led off the inning with a single up the middle and did not have much time to rest as Ferreira followed with a triple into the right center gap.

The Golden Panthers took their first lead of the contest, 8-4, after scoring seven runs on six hits including a three-run homer to left field by Corey Lozano.

FIU increased the lead to 9-4 in the bottom of the seventh when a run scored with the bases loaded on a fielding error.

JU will return to Atlantic Sun Conference action at John Sessions Stadium against East Tennessee State, beginning on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. The contest can be seen live through ASun.TV on JUDolphins.com.