Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Florida Atlantic
Middle Tennessee
Baseball Takes Doubleheader From Middle Tennessee
5/5/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 5, 2007
After Friday's contest was rained out, Florida Atlantic University took a doubleheader from Middle Tennessee 16-1, 8-4 on Saturday. Game one was suspended in the eighth inning and was completed after the second game of the contest was aired on CSS in the evening.
Joel Schmal (4-0) pitched the first seven innings of game one to earn the win and allowed one run on seven hits and struck out three. He did not allow the run until the sixth inning. While the MTSU (24-23, 12-11 SBC) offense was kept in check, the FAU bats produced 16 runs on 16 hits, including four home runs which tied a season-high.
FAU (30-18,12-14 SBC) posted two runs in the first two innings on leadoff home runs from Daniel Cook and William Block. After going down in order in the third, the Owls posted seven runs in the fourth on five hits. Three of the runs came off a Mike McKenna three-run shot to left centerfield.
The fourth homer came in the fifth inning as William Block led off the frame with a solo shot. Two doubles by Nick Arata and McKenna allowed FAU to go up 13-0.
Chris Eberhart and Andrew Tomlin entered in relief when the game resumed in the evening.
Block finished the game 4-for-5 with four runs scored and two RBI. Mike McKenna added four RBI, while Robbie Widlansky, McKenna and Nick Arata all finished with two hits.
Brad Robinson suffered the loss to fall to 5-2 after four innings of work. He allowed nine runs on eights hits and allowed four walks. Three pitchers worked out of the bullpen for the Blue Raiders and gave up seven runs on eight hits.
In game two of the series, Daniel Bomback erased a 3-2 deficit with a three-run homer and the Owls held on for an 8-4 win. Chris Salberg (4-3) picked up the victory after 6 1/3 innings. The senior allowed four runs on 10 hits and struck out three. Mike Obradovich entered in relief and picked up his second save of the season after 2 2/3 innings.
Once again the Owls jumped on the board first as Travis Ozga, Block and Justin Martin strung together three straight hits to start the second inning. Martin drove both runners home with a double down the right field line.
Middle Tennessee used two of its four extra base hits on the day to score three runs in the second and third innings. After reaching on a double to start the second inning, Zach Barrett scored on a Myles Ervin single. Barrett recorded an RBI in the following frame with one of the innings RBI singles to take the 3-2 lead.
Bomback's homer came in the fourth to put the contest out of reach, but not before Middle Tennessee brought the game within two runs with a run in the seventh after Matt Ray reached on a double.
The FAU offense gave the team a little breathing room with two more runs in the eighth inning and Mike Obradovich shut the door on the Blue Raiders.
Bomback finished with his second three-RBI game of the day and Justin Martin finished the contest with a 3-for-5 showing with two RBI.
The final game of the series will take place on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. et at Reese Smith Field.
