Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Florida Atlantic
UCF
FAU's First Loss In Tournament
5/18/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 18, 2001
The only undefeated teams in the TAAC Tournament, no. 5 Florida Atlantic University (36-23) and no. 1 University of Central Florida (48-11), dueled it out in a ten inning game before FAU took the 6-5 loss.
Jim Cooney started the game for FAU, but was relieved in the first inning by Nelson Lopez after giving up two earned runs and two hits. Lopez pitched six strong innings for Florida Atlantic giving up only one earned run and striking out five.
FAU scored all five runs in the second inning with two outs. Ryan Humphrey started it off with a walk and advanced to second when Robbie Orton was hit by a pitch. A Jason Sullivan single scored one and advanced Orton to second. Another walk loaded the bases for Gabe Somarriba (3-for-5), who earned two RBI with a single to center. L.J. Biernbaum followed with another single to center to score Bobby Spano, who reached on a walk.
After the Golden Knights scored a run in the seventh, FAU brought in Chris Pillsbury. Pillsbury who worked 1 and 2/3 innings and gave up one run to tie the game at five. Tim McNab then saw work as he moved from left field to pitcher. With a man on first and second, Jeremy Frost tried to bunt, but McNab was able to get the lead runner at third. After a pop out to second, and a strike out, the game went into extra innings.
FAU threatened in the tenth. With one out and Biernbaum at third, Alex Fernandez tried a squeeze play but watch the ball roll foul. Biernbaum was then picked off third base to end the threat.
UCF won the game in the bottom of the tenth when Mike Myers hit a solo shot down the left field line.
Tim McNab (2-1) took the loss for FAU after pitching 1and 1/3 inning, striking out two and giving up one run.
FAU plays their second game of the day in the double elimination tournament tonight at 7 pm against the winner of Troy State/Jacksonville.
