Quote:FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 5, MIAMI 4


G. Panthers edge Hurricanes

BY ED GRAY

Special to the Herald


The FIU Golden Panthers pounced on the Hurricanes early Wednesday night at Mark Light Field and held on for a 5-4 victory that incensed Miami coach Jim Morris.

''I'm embarrassed. That was one of the worst efforts, both mentally and physically, that I've seen,'' said Jim Morris, whose fifth-ranked Hurricanes (19-5) had won 15 of their past 16 games heading into the game.

After FIU (15-16) won the season series against Miami 2-1, left fielder Fernando Alvarez, who contributed a two-run double in the first inning, said the win will give the Panthers momentum as they begin Sun Belt Conference play.

''We faced adversity early in the season,'' said Alvarez, whose team has won nine of its past 11 games. ``We're starting to show who we are.''

The Panthers chased starter Vince Bongiovanni in the first inning, scoring four runs. After striking out leadoff batter Dennis Diaz, the Panthers had five straight hits, including an RBI double by Cody Jacobs, an RBI single by Yahmed Yema and Alvarez's two-run double. Bongiovanni (2-2), who faced only seven batters, was relieved by J.D. Cockroft, who got the next two batters of the inning to ground out.

A sensational catch in center by Diaz, who chased down a long fly ball hit by the UM catcher Erick San Pedro, snuffed out a second-inning rally by the Hurricanes with one run scored.

Kept in the game by solid relief from Cockroft, UM pulled to 4-3 in the sixth and 5-4 in the seventh but was unable to pull ahead.

Panthers starter Ammer Cabrera was forced to retire after aggravating a groin injury with two outs in the third. Frank Gonzalez (2-0) got credit for the victory after 1 2/3 innings of relief. Danny Hernandez got his third save of the year with two innings.

• UM pitcher Shawn Valdes-Fauli was suspended for the rest of the year for a rules violation. Valdes-Fauli, who returned from a previous suspension to post a 3-0 record this season, will be eligible for reinstatement next season.

Pitcher Brandon Camardese, suspended three games for a rules violation, was reinstated.