Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Florida Atlantic
Georgia State
Baseball Rolls Past Georgia State
4/20/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 20, 2001
ATLANTA, GA -
The early innings set the tone as Florida Atlantic University scored six runs in the first three innings en route to an 8-3 win over Trans America Athletic Conference rival Georgia State University. L.J. Biernbaum and Gabe Somarriba each hit a homer and drove in three runs while Petersen Benjamin threw a complete-game six-hitter as FAU improved to 29-16 overall and 9-7 in TAAC play.
A lead-off walk to Bobby Spano and a Regan Samaniego single to right field paved the way for a three-run home run by Biernbaum, his third in three games and 11th overall, to give the Blue Wave an early 3-0 lead in the first. Somarriba gave FAU a 4-1 lead in the second when he delivered his first blast of the season over the right field wall.
In the third, a Mike Valdes single scored Biernbaum and was followed by an RBI-single by Rusty Brown to increase the lead to 6-1. GSU (17-26, 5-11 TAAC) scored twice in the bottom of the inning to pull to within 6-3.
FAU's six runs and six hits in the first three innings were enough to knock out GSU starter Ryan Patrylo. Meanwhile, Benjamin, who allowed three runs, two earned, during that same period, proceeded to retire 14 straight Panthers after a one-out single in the fourth. He allowed just four balls out of the infield after the fourth inning, including a lead-off single in the ninth.
Somarriba padded FAU's lead with a two-run double in the eighth to give the Owls an 8-3 lead.
Biernbaum, Somarriba, and Brown each had three hits as FAU outhit GSU 13-5. Benjamin (5-3) picked up the victory, allowing just six hits and fanning nine with no walks. It was his fourth complete game of the season. Patrylo (3-3) suffered the loss for GSU.
The two teams will complete their three-game series Saturday with a 1:00pm doubleheader.
