April 24, 2004

MIAMI, Fla.-A three-run second would be all that FIU needed to get by the
Ragin’ Cajuns by a final count of 8-1 Saturday afternoon at University Park
Florida International’s regular Friday night starter Derek DeCarlo stifled
the Cajuns bats allowing only one run off of five hits.

Ian Pecoraro got the loss for Louisiana tossing six innings
surrendering six earned runs after being hit ten times. Pecoraro (3-2)
recorded eight strikeouts in the outing.

DeCarlo took the win throwing the entire game. DeCarlo (3-8) notched 10
strikeouts in the game.

Josh Landry snuck a one-out single through the left side to in the top of
the first, but the Panthers would turn a double play on an infield grounder
to retire the Cajuns.

Pecoraro walked Lehman with one gone in the bottom of the first inning.
Lehman took second on a Yahmed Yema single to left, but Pecoraro settled in to strike out the next two to get out of the inning.

DeCarlo retired the Cajuns side in order in the top of inning two.

The Golden Panthers went up 3-0 after the third inning. Michael Lopez
doubled off the wall in center before Adrian Casanova walked on four
straight pitches. Lopez scored on a play after Casanova was caught in a run down between second and third. Dennis Diaz doubled and stole third before P.J. Lehman walked and Yema singled to plate another FIU baserunner.

Last night’s hero Brian Aragon singled to left with one gone in the bottom
of the third, but Cajuns catcher Ryan Core threw him out trying to swipe
second.

Pecoraro came out firing strikes in the bottom of the fourth, chalking up a
pair of strikeouts en route to sitting the Panthers in order.

Yema homered in the fourth giving the home team a 4-0 lead.

The Cajuns threatened in the top of the sixth when DeCarlo surrendered his
first walk of the game to Justin Merendino just before Landry ripped a
single down the firstbase line to put runners on the corners. DeCarlo
avoided run damage with an infield grounder to first got the Panthers out of
the inning.

Diaz knocked a homerun over the wall in left to up Golden Panthers lead to
5-0.

Lehman singled with a bunt and took second on a throwing error chasing
Pecoraro for right-hander Jeff Morgan.

Lehman scored in an attempt to take thirdbase after being hit by the throw
going into third. Yema singled to center. A sacrifice bunt put runners on
first and third after a Morgan offering clipped Fernando Alvarez.

Michael Lopez was walked intentionally loading the bases for Casanova who drove in two runs with a single to left giving the Golden Panthers an 8-0 lead.

Pinch hitter Brad Saloom gave the Cajuns their first run in the top of the
eighth with a single through the right side on the heels of Micah Cockrell’s
double to center.

The Cajuns and Golden Panthers will wrap-up the series tomorrow afternoon. The first pitch in the series finale is scheduled for 12 p.m. CDT.

UL Sports Information Release