Shutout Leads to Sweep of Louisville

Sunday, February 19

Boca Raton, Fla.

11:00 AM

Florida Atlantic

Louisville

2/19/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Feb. 19, 2006

Final Stats

With a 6-0 win over Louisville on Sunday afternoon, Florida Atlantic University swept a series from the Cardinals and improved to 5-4 on the year. Joel Schmal, Mike Crotta, Mike Salivar, Will Mann and Brett Cannon combined for FAU's second shutout in as many weekends.

After jumping ahead 0-2 to the leadoff batter in the first, U of L starting pitcher Mike Lynn plunked William Block in the shoulder to put a runner on base. After a wild pitch moved the second baseman into scoring position, a base hit by Ovy Ramirez plated the first run of the game. The run was also the lone score that didn't come with two outs for the Owls. Timely hitting gave Florida Atlantic six runs on nine hits, while the Cardinals (0-4) stranded 11 runners on eight hits.

Mike McKenna plated the second run in the first with a single through the right side. Behind 2-0, Lynn settled down to retire the side in both the second and third and recorded the first two outs of the fourth before giving up a home run to Jordan Hafer.

Lynn (0-1) was chased from the contest in the sixth after issuing a single to Anthony Albano and walking McKenna. Relievere B.J. Rosenberg then got the second out via a struck out before Alex Silversmith delivered a two-run single to put FAU up 5-0.

"We got runs when we needed," said FAU head coach Kevin Cooney. "Hafer's home run gave us a 3-0 lead before Silversmith put the nail in the coffin with his two RBI."

An Anthony Albano RBI in the seventh was the final run of the contest. Albano finished with five RBI for the weekend and now leads the team with 10 RBI on the year. He also hit .462 (6-for-13) against the Cards.

The Owls' pitching staff held its opponent to eight hits and struck out 10 to record the shutout. Schmal improves to 2-1 after working six innings and striking out six and allowing five hits.

"Schmal pitched well and got out of jams, which he wasn't able to do in his earlier starts," stated Cooney. "Today the pitching staff pitched the way we expected them to coming into the season."

FAU will host its fourth team next weekend when Connecticut visits Boca Raton for a three-game series. Friday's game time is slated for 7 p.m. and will be the first action of the season for the Huskies.