Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Baseball Gains Preseason Ranking for Second Straight Season
12/19/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Dec. 19, 2003
The Florida Atlantic University baseball team will open the season on Feburary 6 against Florida A&M with a no. 19 ranking by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. The oldest college baseball poll listed FAU at no. 23 at the close of the 2003 season. The paper also named three FAU players to Louisville Slugger's All-American Teams. Left-handed pitcher, Randy Beam picked up second-team honors, while senior Rusty Brown and junior Jeff Fiorentino were listed on the third team.
With seven starting position players and five pitchers returning the team looks to build on a 47-16 season. Fiorentino (Hollywood, FL) and Brown (N. Fort Myers, FL) led the team last year with batting averages of .382 and .368 respectively. Fiorentino finished his junior campaign ranked 42nd in the nation in runs per game (42), 82nd in batting average and 66th in home runs per game (0.24). Brown, FAU's leading RBI hitter, finished with 66 RBI and 59th in the country with 1.06 per game.
Beam (Sarasota, FL) picked up Third-Team All-American recognition from Collegiate Baseball last year after he posted a 13-2 record with a 2.39 ERA. He completed his junior season 6th in the nation in victories and 33rd in ERA.
Adding to FAU's talent in 2004 will be 14 newcomers. Six junior transfers will add experience to a squad with 14 upper classmen.
