Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Florida Atlantic
FIU
FAU Baseball Falls to FIU, 5-2
2/16/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 16, 2001
MIAMI, FL - Two teams vying for a top-30 ranking, two teams who have eliminated each other from the NCAA Regional Tournament, and two teams which have split the last eight games, faced off Friday night, in the first of a three game series. Game one saw Florida Atlantic University (6-4) fall to Florida International University (7-2) 5-2.
The two teams were scoreless through three complete innings. A thirty minute power outage ended with FIU scoring two runs in the bottom of the fourth behind a FAU error. FAU pulled within one in the sixth behind a Mike Valdes double.
FIU got the run back in the bottom half of the inning and continued to add runs in the seventh and eighth.
Offensively, FAU tallied seven hits. Regan Samaniego was 3-for-3 and L.J. Biernbaum was 2-for-3 with a double. Valdes and Bobby Spano also had doubles.
FIU had eight hits with the first three batters in the order going 2-for-4.
Petersen Benjamin started the game for FAU. He pitched seven innings allowed four runs, two earned, retired nine via the strike out and balked two. Benjamin was relieved in the eighth by Jim Cooney. Cooney allowed one hit, a homer, and struck out one.
FIU's William Collazo pitched seven innings allowed one earned run and tallied 13 strike outs. He was relieved in the eighth by Paul Zervas who struck out two before giving way to Osvaldo Lugo, who completed the game.
The two teams are scheduled to play in Miami, 2 pm, Saturday.
