Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Florida Atlantic
Jacksonville
Schmal Throws Complete Game and Strikes Out Career High
5/25/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 25, 2006
Joel Schmal pitched his first complete game and struck out a career-high seven batters as he guided Florida Atlantic University to an 8-3 win over no.1 Jacksonville University on Thursday afternoon in the Atlantic Sun Tournament. The Owls also posted their highest hit total of the year with 19 hits to stay alive in the tournament.
"Schmal settled in and threw a great game," said FAU head coach Kevin Cooney. "He gave us a chance to overcome some missed scoring opportunities."
The Owls (30-27) left 14 men on base in the contest. In the first two innings, FAU left five stranded, but a William Block solo home run in the second inning tied the game at one after JU used a two-out double and triple in the first inning to gain the early 1-0 lead off of Schmal
Mike McKenna gave FAU its first lead of the contest in the third inning with a solo homer to start the inning.
Schmal (Highland, IN) settled in and held the Dolphins in-check until the sixth inning when he gave up a leadoff double to Pete Clifford. A groundout and a single later and Jacksonville tied the game at two.
Schmal would complete the game to improve to 7-2 on the year after he allowed three runs on six hits.
With relief pitchers in the game for the Dolphins (42-16), FAU scored six runs in the final three frames. The leadoff batter reached base in each inning and scored as the team collected 10 hits in the final three frames. The no. 9 hitter Daniel Cook (Miami, FL) went 2-for-2 during the run with a walk and two RBI. The sophomore finished the game with a career-high three hits and drove in a team-leading two RBI.
Leadoff hitter and First Team All-Conference selection Jordan Hafer finished the afternoon 4-for-4 with an RBI to raise his batting average to .349.
Freshman All-Conference selection William Block went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a career-high three runs scored.
D.J. Ackley (6-4) suffered the loss for the Dolphins after he pitched five innings and gave up three runs on 10 hits.
FAU will face East Tennessee State on Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. in an elimination contest. The Owls swept the Buccaneers last weekend in Boca Raton in the final series of the regular season.
---The 19 hits was the most for the Owls since April 1, 2005 against the same Jacksonville team.
