McCormack, Florida Atlantic Win 2009 Debut

Friday, February 20

Boca Raton, Fla.

6:30 PM

Florida Atlantic

1-0

Fordham

0-1

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Fordham	0	3	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	6	6	1
Florida Atlantic	3	0	1	2	0	2	0	0	X	8	7	2

2/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Feb. 20, 2009

Final Stats | Action Photos

BOCA RATON, FL - Tom Hatcher homered in his first two at-bats and senior classmate David Wilson hit a go-ahead triple in the sixth as Florida Atlantic beat Fordham 8-6. Alex Pepe came on to pitch three spotless innings in mid-relief assuring John McCormack a win in his debut as coach at Florida Atlantic. It was the 2009 season-opener for both schools.

Hatcher put Florida Atlantic (1-0) up by three runs in the first inning, driving a 2-1 pitch from Fordham starter J.P. Mack over the fence in right-centerfield. He followed with a solo shot to center in the third inning - homering in his first two at-bats of the year.

Hatcher hit .319 with nine homers and 46 RBI last season as the Owls' DH. He finished the night 2-for-4 with four RBI. FAU newcomer Nick DelGuidice led all players with three hits.

Nick Martinez hit a three-run home run for Fordham (0-1) with two outs in the top of the second to even the game at three.

Sophomore starter Mike Gipson went 3 2/3 innings for the Owls, striking out six and allowing five hits and two earned runs. Gipson was chased after throwing 26 pitches during a three-run Fordham fourth which helped the Rams briefly lead 6-4.

The game was tied 6-6 when DelGuidice doubled to begin the bottom of the sixth and scored moments later on Wilson's triple. Troy Bubley knocked in Wilson with a sac fly and FAU led 8-6.

Mack (0-1), making his first opening-day start for Fordham, allowed eight runs, seven hits, four walks and struck out two over five innings.

Pepe (1-0) looked terrific in relief of Gipson. The senior lefty - taken by the Texas Rangers in the 2008 MLB Draft - retired all 10 batters he faced through 3 1/3. 6-foot-5 freshman Hugh Adams worked a scoreless ninth to earn the save.

GAME NOTES: FAU started seven seniors... The game drew a crowd of 596... Florida Atlantic batters swung and missed just seven times all night... The Owls hit .321 last season en route to scoring over eight runs per game... DelGuidice nearly went 4-for-4 in his first game as an Owl, but a ball pulled deep into the leftfield corner was ruled a foul, missing the line by inches...The Owls are 6-2 in its last eight openers... McCormack was coaching his first game as FAU head coach after serving 18 years as an assistant and associate head coach.