Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Baseball Hosts Ohio State
3/22/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 22, 2004
Coming off of three straight wins, Ohio State University rolls into FAU Stadium for a two-game series with no. 22 Florida Atlantic University (21-4) on Tuesday and Wednesday evening at 7 pm. The meeting will be the first between the two teams since 1991 when the Buckeyes took a 6-3 decision and the game can be followed live on gametracker at www.fausports.com.
OSU (7-7) is in the midst of a four-game swing in Florida. The Buckeyes defeated Rider 8-3 and Rutgers 6-4 earlier this week after falling behind in both contests. The squad entered the season ranked no. 26 but fell after two losses in the first week.
Brett Garrard leads the squad with a .405 average and a .568 slugging percentage, while Mike Rabin leads the team with nine RBI. As a team OSU is batting .265, while opponents muster a .278 average.
Right-handed pitcher Mike Madsen will take the mound on Tuesday followed by southpaw Josh Newman. The two have a combined 6-3 record. Newman leads the team with 27 strikeouts and is holding opponents to a .218 average despite a 4.13 ERA. Madsen has worked 24 2/3 innings and has allowed nine extra base hits, while striking out 20 and holds a 5.47 ERA.
Expected to take the mound for FAU, Jason Costello (LHP) picked up his first victory last week against Iona. The junior transfer pitched five innings in a rain-shortened game and held the Gaels to four hits in five innings and struck out three. Right-hander Will Mann will throw on Wednesday. He enters the week with a 7.04 ERA and 2-0 record. His two wins came against Bethune-Cookman and Florida International earlier this season.
Three FAU players boast over .400 batting averages. Mike McBryde (North Palm Beach, FL) leads the way with a .444 average in 27 at bats. Tim Mascia (Wellington, FL) and Derek Hutton (Palm Beach Gardens, FL) follow with .414 and .411 averages, respectively. Jeff Fiorentino leads the A-Sun with 31 RBI after finishing last week with five RBI in an 8-for-18 effort at the plate.
National Rankings as of 3/22/04
Baseball America-22
Collegiate Baseball-22
ESPN/Sports Weekly-19
