Golden Panthers Host Three-Game Series Against Rut

[FIUVoice]

Offensive fireworks are expected as the Florida International baseball team continues its 22-game homestand with a three-game series against Rutgers at University Park Stadium on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. First pitch is set for 7 p.m on Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.



A powerful Golden Panther (10-6) offense has put up 53 runs in the last four games. For the season, FIU is batting .354 as a team with 44 doubles and a .441 on-base percentage. Led by left fielder James McOwen (.582 average, 39 hits) and third baseman Bryan Pullin (.408, 27 runs scored), the Golden Panthers are averaging 10.0 runs and pounding out more than 13 hits per game.



FIU bounced back from a Sunday setback against Wagner with an 11-10 come-from-behind win against Boston College Tuesday night. Tyler Towsend’s broken-bat RBI single in the ninth inning scored Chris Dunn and capped a wild final turn at the plate for FIU, which included four runs in the final inning of play. McOwen went 4-for-5 with four RBI, a home run and three runs scored. Townsend finished the night 3-for-4 with three RBI and first baseman John Petika extended his hitting streak to 14 games, going 1-for-4.

Rutgers (5-4) is led by a pair of outstanding juniors in All-American shortstop Todd Frazier and the current Louisville Slugger Player of the Week, left fielder Sean Hill. The Scarlet Knights are hitting .318 and averaging nearly eight runs per game. RU upset nationally-ranked Georgia Tech in its series finale against the Yellow Jackets last Sunday, 9-5. Hill is hitting .441 with a team-best 15 runs and 10 walks, while leadoff man Frazier has already belted five home runs and is hitting .375.

FIU right-hander Jorge Ramos (2-2, 3.33 ERA) has been the Golden Panthers’ most-consistent starter and will head to the hill against sophomore righty Matt Giannini (1-2, 9.00 ERA) Friday night. Southpaw Corey Polizzano (2-1, 5.47 ERA) will start Saturday’s game against senior right-hander Steve Healing (1-1, 6.06 ERA) and Chris Allen (0-1, 5.33 ERA) will get the nod Sunday against Casey Gaynor (1-0, 3.14 ERA).

The Golden Panthers own a 29-11 advantage in the series with Rutgers, and have won the last four meetings between the two teams, dating back to 2005.



Tickets are still available with prices at $5 for adults and $3 for children 12 and under. Admission is free for FIU students.

should be a fun series after reading this preview

[yippee]

that game was the worst game that I went too.. Rutgers fans called the FIU police and brought them to the field, so I was told. They kicked football players out cause we were saying "you suck" cause it rhymes with F___. And they had the nerve to complain about US when two of their fans, dads probably, came a sat behind up calling my friends PUNKS. I wish Mike Garridy was there.

[FIUPantherFan]

That blows. These guys are making the baseball games exciting and fun for the fans. They better take care of their own before taking care of obnoxious guests.

[MaXx]

I thought it was horrible that they complained about the football players. I didn't hear any foul language other than the word suck, but I was sitting far. However, I thought it was ridiculous that they would do that. The guys were pissed with the treatment and decided to leave, I really hope this doesn't cause them to abandon coming to games entirely, they made the games a lot more fun.

[MiRi]

If all they said was "you suck", and they got kicked out just for that, then that's just pathetic.

[yippee]

They threatened to not to come back.. Who knows. Since Joey was kicked out and another player all of the football players left. Its like we were being babysitted. someone from athletics was sitting behind us the whole time.

[FIUPantherFan]

We should write Pete Garcia and tell him that there are definately worse things that football players could be doing with their Friday night than supporting their fellow Golden Panthers. That's BS.

[MiRi]

It really is BS. It's one thing if they were saying really bad things. But if all they were saying was "suck", come on. That's just... I don't know. It just really pisses me off what these Rutgers people did. They need a sense of humor.

I overheard a lady tell one of our athletics employees, "You know you just lost some of your regulars, right?" The guys replied, "Well, they have to be respectful." She replied, "They weren't saying anything wrong at all."

[FIUVoice]

by what i was told that the football players told the pitcher to slit his veins and that is why they were asked to leave....since i was upstairs i can't say i heard it first hand...but i hope that this doesn't cause the football players to not come back...it makes the games more exciting..


As for Saturday's game...FIU won 4-2 as Chris Allen pitched a complete game striking out 12 and we got a home run from Petika to tie the game in the 7th followed by a two-run pinch hit homer by Raimy Fuentes to seal the deal....good game overall by everyone involved.

[yippee]

roman said:

by what i was told that the football players told the pitcher to slit his veins and that is why they were asked to leave....since i was upstairs i can't say i heard it first hand...but i hope that this doesn't cause the football players to not come back...it makes the games more exciting..


As for Saturday's game...FIU won 4-2 as Chris Allen pitched a complete game striking out 12 and we got a home run from Petika to tie the game in the 7th followed by a two-run pinch hit homer by Raimy Fuentes to seal the deal....good game overall by everyone involved.

slit your wrists.. its been said before at a game and nothing has happened. He was asked to leave because he said something and the FIU cop thought that he was talking to him and asked him to leave. Its crap. those fans suck, and we were respectful, we don't curse at the players or the other fans. But when their fans come behind you and talk crap about you really loud calling US punks, thats when you know that the 40 year olds aren't being respectful.

the game was great today! two home runs.. AMAZING!

Who's going tomorrow?

[FIUVoice]

i think ill be there tomm.