MIAMI, Fla. (05/01/09) ? A much-anticipated pitching duel never materialized Friday night at University Park in Miami, Fla. as the Arkansas State Red Wolves (19-25, 9-13) rolled to a 13-1 victory over the Golden Panthers of Florida International (27-18, 12-10) in the Sun Belt Conference series opener between the two teams.

Arkansas State preseason All-SBC senior Chase Ware squared off against FIU starter Tom Ebert and his league-leading 3.00 ERA to open the game, but the Red Wolves pounded out nine hits to score nine runs in the first three innings and drive Ebert off the hill early. 

Ware gave up a solo home run in the first, then settled in to blank the Panthers over the next seven and one-thirds innings, striking out 10 batters on the night to get the win and improve to 5-2 on the year.

“I was very pleased with the way we came out and punched them in three early innings in a row,” said ASU Head Coach Tommy Raffo.  “I think it set the tone for the game, and when you have your ace on the mound it really gives a lot of confidence to the ballclub.”

“”Chase had some guys on base early-on and still made some great pitches when it counted,” added Raffo.  “That separates him and that's why he is a Friday night guy for us.”

Arkansas State took a 2-0 lead in the first when first baseman Brandon Eller sent a two-out single to center field to drive in both runs and put the Red Wolves on the board.  A solo home run from Golden Panther right fielder Tyler Townsend in the bottom of the first cut the ASU lead to 2-1, but the Red Wolves added three runs in the second and four in the third to take a 9-1 advantage.

Center fielder Todd Baumgartner singled with two outs to drive in the first A-State run in the second and a two-run double to center field later in the inning from designated hitter Murray Watts made it 5-1, Arkansas State. 

The Red Wolves squeezed in a run to get the scoring started in the third when shortstop Jordan Kimball laid a bases-loaded bunt single down the first base line, and a two-run double from right fielder Derrick Coleman extended the ASU lead to 8-1.  A ground-out from Baumgartner drove in the final run in the third, and Baumgartner singled and eventually scored on a wild pitch in the fifth to make it 10-1, A-State.

A two-run double off the right-center field wall from left fielder Josh DeMoney lifted the Red Wolves' lead to 12-1 in the seventh and a sacrifice fly from Kimball in the ninth set the final at 13-1.

DeMoney went 3-for-4, Baumgartner was 3-for-6 and Kimball went 2-for-3, with all three driving in two runs to lead ASU at the plate.  Townsend was 2-for-4 with an RBI to lead FIU.

Arkansas State will go for the series victory Saturday at 5:00 p.m., central time.