Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Florida Atlantic
WKU
Baseball Takes Sun Belt Series from WKU
3/11/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 11, 2007
With a 9-7 win over Western Kentucky University, Florida Atlantic University won its first Sun Belt Conference series. A four home run effort from the Owls helped improve the team to 15-4, 2-1 SBC, while Western Kentucky falls to 6-8, 1-2 SBC.
FAU put runs on the board in the first five innings on five hits. Three of those hits came off homers from Tyler Stevens, Robbie Widlansky and Daniel Cook. Stevens' home run was the first of his career.
The Hilltoppers jumped on the board in the second as Wade Gaynor drove in Jake Wells with an RBI double in the second inning. The FAU defense squelched the WKU offense with inning-ending double plays in the first three innings. On the day, the Owls completed four double plays.
After trailing 6-1, WKU rallied with five runs in the sixth inning as they faced four FAU pitchers in the inning.
In the eighth inning, Tyler Stevens got a leadoff base hit through the right side. After a sacrifice bunt moved the designated hitter into scoring position WKU induced a fly ball to record the second out. With the top of the lineup stepping to the plate, the Hilltoppers intentionally walked William Block to face Daniel Bomback. The junior delivered his second home run of the weekend and sixth of the season over the leftfield fence into the WKU bullpen for the 9-6 FAU lead. Seven of FAU's runs came with two outs in the contest.
After entering in the sixth inning, Chris Salberg gave up a leadoff triple to Matt Hightower who eventually came around to score on a groundball.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Owls held a two-run lead. After recording the first two outs, Salberg allowed two base hits and walked a batter to load the bases. Mike Obradovich then entered the game to get Matt Payton to lace a grounder to William Block at third base who stepped on the bag for the final out of the game.
Salberg (1-2) earned the win after throwing three innings and allowing one run on six hits and striking out five. His counterpart, Steve Rupper suffered the loss to fall to 0-1 after 1 1/3 innings. He allowed one run on two hits. Obradovich earned a save in the outing.
Daniel Bomback led FAU at the plate with a 2-for-4 performance and four RBI.
The Owls will play two midweek contests before returning to Sun Belt action next weekend. FAU will host Rutgers and Northern Illinois on Tuesday and Wednesday before 2006 Sun Belt Champion Troy visits for a three-game weekend series.
