Trojans Fall to FIU 12-4 in Series Finale

Sunday, April 10

Riddle-Pace Field

1:00 pm

Troy University

Florida International University

Photo by: Kevin Glackmeyer

4/10/2011 4:38:37 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Ricky Hazel

FINAL BOX SCORE: PDF | HTML

After jumping out to an early 2-0 lead on the reigning Sun Belt Conference Pitcher of the Week, the Trojans saw FIU score 12 unanswered runs against the first six of seven Troy pitchers to take the mound on Sunday in a 12-4 loss to the Panthers at Riddle-Pace Field.

FIU's Daniel DeSimone (4-2) settled down quickly after Ali Knowles drove home a pair of runs for Troy in the second inning, retiring 14 of the next 16 Trojans hitters while the Panthers pounded out 15 hits against Troy.

TheTrojans fall to 25-6 overall with the loss and 10-2 in Sun Belt play while FIU improved to 20-15 overall and 5-7 in conference play. It was the first loss on what the Trojans call “Championship Sunday” for Troy.

The trouble started in the fifth inning for Troy starter Jimmy Hodgskin (2-2), who struggled with his control for a second consecutive outing. Consecutive singles by T.J. Shantz and Pablo Bermudez set the stage for Jeremy Patton, who blasted a first pitch fastball over the wall in right to put the Panthers in the lead.

After surrendering his fourth walk, Hodgskin surrendered an RBI double to Rudy Flores before being lifted. Senior Nick Ward came on in relief and gave up a walk and an RBI single to Yoandy Barosso before getting a fly ball to end the frame.

FIU pushed its advantage to 9-2 in the seventh. A leadoff homer by Mike Martinez off Nathan Hill was followed later in the frame by a two-run double by Shantz off Thomas Austin. Bermudez followed with a run-scoring double to cap the inning.

Chris Fisher came on to pitch for Troy in the eighth and surrendered consecutive singles to Garrett Wittles and Martinez before Flores blasted a three-run homer to make it 12-2.

Troy avoided getting run-ruled on its home field when Hayden Hillyer delivered a two-run pinch hit double to chase DeSimone in the eighth. Jose Velazquez came on to pitch the last two innings for FIU.

T.J. Rivera and Knowles had two hits apiece for Troy while Bermudez, Flores and Shantz had three hits each to lead the Panthers.

The Trojans will return to action on Tuesday night at Jacksonville State. The game is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start from Rudy Abbott Field.