Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Florida Atlantic
Samford
Baseball Sweeps Samford
3/31/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 31, 2001
BOCA RATON, FL -
Florida Atlantic University won two games against Samford University in a Trans America Athletic Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon in Boca Raton, FL. FAU (24-14, 4-5 TAAC) defeated the Bulldogs 4-3 in eight innings in game one before taking game two 6-3. The game one victory marked the 600th career victory for FAU head coach Kevin Cooney.
In game one, Samford (8-20, 2-7 TAAC) took a 3-1 lead into the seventh inning before FAU's Andrew Thoms hit a one-out two-run single to score Dean Devine and Alex Fernandez to tie the score at 3-3. In the eighth, after lead-off singles by L.J. Biernbaum and Mike Valdes, Devine hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to score Biernbaum and give the Owls the victory and Cooney his 600th.
While the win was a milestone, Cooney said it was critical for his team after Friday night's loss to the Bulldogs.
"It's almost like the patient was stabilized today after being put in intensive care on a respirator overnight," Cooney said. "Getting that win in game one was so crucial for this team's confidence."
Matt O'Brien (3-0) picked up the first of two victories on the day as he faced just one batter to close out the top of the eighth. Rusty Brown hit his second homer of the year with a solo shot in the second.
In game two, O'Brien got the start and went four innings, allowing three runs, two unearned, on five hits. FAU scored twice in the second to take a 2-1 lead which included an RBI-double by Fernandez.
In the third, FAU broke the game open with four runs to take a 6-1 lead. A Rob Orton two-run single was the big hit while Fernandez and Brown also had hits to drive in a run.
Samford capped off the game's scoring with two runs in the fourth, including a Major Allred solo home run.
Chris Pillsbury picked up his first save of the season, going 2.2 innings and allowing no runs on two hits and a walk.
Overall, Cooney says the 600 wins are a testament to the quality of the programs he's been associated with.
"I'm extremely proud that I've been able to coach at Montclair State and at Florida Atlantic. If I had been at other schools, I wouldn't have 600 wins. You have to be at a place that has a strong program and a winning tradition. I'm grateful for being at those schools, especially here at Florida Atlantic. I have appreciation for the athletes and the coaches that have been here for the past 14 seasons."
FAU next plays at Jacksonville Friday at 7:00pm.
