Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Florida Atlantic
Illinois State
Baseball Falls To Illinois State 6-3
3/10/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 10, 2001
Florida Atlantic University scored three runs in the sixth, but saw Illinois State University score two in the seventh and four in the eighth to take a 6-3 victory from FAU, Saturday night. FAU falls to 13-8.
The game was scoreless through five and a half. FAU threatened in the bottom of the fifth with bases loaded, but Illinois State starter Neal Cotts ended the inning with a called third strike to get out of the jam
FAU returned to the plate in the sixth to make good on the threat. Mike Valdes led off the inning with a single. Regan Samaniego followed with a right line hugging double. L.J. Biernbam, who was scheduled to take the day off, pinch hit and placed the first pitch he saw over the palm trees in left center.
In all, FAU faced three pitchers in the sixth despite the Red Birds starter, Cotts pitching five complete, allowing just two hits and sticking out 10.
Petersen Benjamin drew the start for FAU. Benjamin was relieved in the seventh with runners on second and third. Both runners would later score on a ground out and a fly out. Nelson Lopez got two outs, gave up two hits before giving way to Danny Core. Core walked the first batter he faced, but got out of the bases loaded jam with a strikeout.
The sophomore righthander wasn't as lucky in the eighth. He gave up a lead-off base hit which was followed by a hard grounder to third, a ball FAU's third baseman couldn't handle allowing runners to take second and third. A base hit, a hit bats man, a ground out and a two-run single gave the Red Birds a 6-3 advantage. James Callahan finished the inning only to see Chris Pillsbury pitch the ninth. Pillsbury held Illinois State hitless in FAU's losing effort. Core took the loss for FAU to fall to 3-2 on the season.
Matt Hines picked up his first victory of the season (1-0). Hines pitched three and a third innings of no run, one hit baseball for the victory.
