Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Florida Atlantic
Nebraska
Baseball Drops One-Run Game to No. 19 Nebraska
2/25/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 25, 2007
Florida Atlantic University closed out the Rice Invitational with its third close game of the weekend. The Owls dropped Sunday afternoon's contest 9-8 to no. 19 Nebraska. It was the team's second loss by less than three runs to a ranked opponent at the tournament. FAU's record stands at 10-2 after the weekend.
The offense started early but FAU's Nick Arata had a spectacular over the shoulder diving catch to rob Jake Optiz of a bloop base hit and end the Nebraska threat in the first inning after they scored a run on two singles and an error.
The Cornhuskers (5-2) strung together two doubles and a single in the third but Florida Atlantic's Robbie Widlansky delivered home runs in the bottom part of each scoring inning to answer the threat. The junior hit a solo shot in the first before a two-run shot in the third over the right field scoreboard tied the game at three.
A three spot in the Husker fourth came off of an FAU error and a two-run homer by Ryan Wehrle. Once again the Owls answered the challenge by tying the game with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Nebraska starting pitcher Johnny Dorn issued two walks to start the fourth before the Huskers recorded two outs. Shortstop Nick Arata then came through with a two-run double down the right line and a fielding error allowed Arata to score on a William Block fly ball.
Two one-run innings for the Huskers in the fourth and fifth put the team up 8-6. Alex Silversmith brought the Owls within one with a solo homer to start the sixth but the team could not post a run against the Nebraska bullpen.
Johnny Dorn earned the win after six innings and allowed seven runs on seven hits to improve to 1-1. FAU' Brandon Cooney (2-1) suffered the loss after allowing seven runs on 11 hits and striking out three in four innings.
Chris Salberg entered in relief for FAU and three five innings and allowed one run on two hits and struck out a season-high six batters.
Block, Widlansky and Arata each finished with two hits, while Widlansky's three RBI lead the team. Arata hit .545 for the weekend (6-for-11) with two doubles.
FAU will not have a day off as it travels to Jupiter to face the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday at 1 p.m. The exhibition game will be the fourth time the two teams have played each other. All FAU students, faculty and staff receive free admission to the game with a university ID.
