Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Florida Atlantic
Mercer
Baseball Falls to Mercer
3/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 11, 2006
By dropping two games on Saturday at Claude Smith Field, Florida Atlantic University was swept by Mercer University for the first time in program history. FAU battled back in game two and had the tying run at the plate but could not pick up the win to fall to 8-11, 0-3 A-Sun. The Bears improve to 13-8. 3-0 A-Sun.
In game one, Daniel Cook picked up his first career home run off of Preseason All-Conference selection Brantley New in the first inning.
Mercer tied the game in the bottom of the frame after FAU starter Chris Salberg (2-3) gave up a leadoff hit to Sean McCahill. A sacrifice bunt moved McCahill to second before he stole third base and scored on an error.
After scoring two runs in the second on three singles by Alex Silversmith, Jordan Hafer and Alex Fonseca, the FAU bats fell silent as the team picked up one hit the remainder of the contest as New struck out a season-high nine batters in his seven innings of work.
The Bears posted four runs in the sixth on two doubles and three singles to take game one 7-3.
Chris Eberhart and Anthony Bradley combined to throw 1 1/3 innings for the Owls and allowed two hits and struck out two. The FAU pitching staff did not walk a batter and struck out eight.
In the final game of the series, the Bears jumped in front 8-0 on FAU starting pitcher Brandon Cooney (0-2) and Andrew Tomlin. Mercer tallied 15 hits in the first five innings before Tomlin, Kenny Gray and Mike Crotta closed out the final three innings by only allowing one hit. The first two batters in Mercer's lineup, Sean McCahill and Eric Renfroe both picked up three hits in the game.
After Mercer starter Shawn Barrett (3-1) held the Owls scoreless in the first five innings FAU batted back with a run in the seventh inning and four in the eighth and had the tying run at the plate. William Block scored FAU's first run in the seventh after starting the inning with a double. In the eighth, three straight singles led to an FAU run before Block picked up two RBI with a single up the middle. Before the Owls could commit any more damage, Mercer made a pitching change and brought in its closer Andrew Urena to work the final 1 2/3 innings and pick up his fifth save of the season and the 8-5 Mercer win.
Alex Fonseca recorded three hits for FAU, while Jordan Hafer and William Block followed with two.
Rutgers and Columbia will visit FAU Stadium for midweek games before new Atlantic Sun Conference member Kennesaw State visits for a three-game series this weekend.
