JONESBORO, Ark. (5-2-2008) ? Arkansas State junior third baseman Guy Brown delivered a two-out RBI single in the eighth to break a 2-2 tie and send the Indians (17-29, 6-16) to a 3-2 victory over the Golden Panthers of Florida International (16-31, 8-14) Friday night at Tomlinson Stadium and Kell Field.
With the win, the Tribe took a 1-0 advantage in the Sun Belt Conference weekend series with the Panthers.
Both teams scored twice in the first inning before ASU starter Chase Ware and FIU starter Corey Polizzano settled in, with neither giving up a run until Brown's hit in the eighth inning sent home junior designated hitter Brandon Eller, who reached on a fielder's choice earlier in the inning.
Ware threw 120 pitches on the night, scattering six hits through seven innings of work. Ware struck out three batters and walked one.
“Chase was super tonight,” said ASU Head Coach Keith Kessinger. “FIU is awfully good offensively, and after a shaky first inning that Chase was able to work out of, he put up a lot of zeros for us.”
Polizzano went seven and two-thirds innings for the Panthers, giving up three runs on just three hits while throwing 111 pitches. Polizzano walked two batters and struck out eight in the loss.
Junior Chris Bullington (1-3) picked up the win for ASU in one inning of work. Bullington went to the mound in the eighth with the bases loaded and one out, but got FIU left fielder John Petika to ground into a double play to get out of the jam.
Following Brown's go-ahead single in the eighth, FIU got runners to first and second with one out in the ninth, but the Indian defense backed up Indian closer Nick Lambert with the Tribe's third double play of the night to put the game in the books and give Lambert his sixth save of the season.
Florida International got RBIs from second baseman Ryan Mollica and right fielder Raimy Fuentes to score its first-inning runs, while ASU answered with at two-run home run from senior shortstop Ryan Hudgins to tie the game in the bottom of the frame.
Hudgins had three of ASU's five hits on the night to lead the Indians at the plate, while first baseman Tyler Townsend had two hits for Florida International.
Arkansas State and Florida International will resume the series Saturday at 6 p.m.
