FAU Withstands Delays, Rally to Top Louisiana 6-5

Saturday, March 14

Lafayette, LA

3:15 PM

Florida Atlantic

11-3, 0

Louisiana

6-8-1, 0

Florida Atlantic

Louisiana-Lafayette

3/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 15, 2009

Final Stats

LAFAYETTE, LA - Rain delayed the start time, stopped play twice, postponed the ending until Sunday morning - all before the University of Louisiana Lafayette rallied for two runs to send the game into extra innings. Florida Atlantic University would eventually escape with a 6-5 victory.

Technically it was Game One of the Sun Belt Conference series between the two schools, as wet weather altered the weekend schedule. Action continues Sunday, with hopes of a second game being completed before the Owls return to Boca Raton Sunday night.

A terrific pitching performance by Mike Gipson put Florida Atlantic (11-3; 2-2 Sun Belt) in position to win Saturday but a second rain delay suspended the game in the bottom of the ninth with the Owls leading 5-3.

The new day gave Louisiana-Lafayette (6-8-1; 1-3 Sun Belt) new life, as the Rajin' Cajuns scored twice off FAU closer Hugh Adams to extend the already two-day old game into extra innings Sunday morning.

With the score even at 5-5 in the tenth, Anthony Mesa hit a clutch two-out single which brought home Tom Hatcher, who had doubled and the Owls retook the lead 6-5.

The drama continued in the bottom of the tenth, with ULL loading up the bases with two outs. On a 3-0 count Glen Troyanowski threw four-straight fastballs to Kyle Bostick (two were fouled off) before a fifth was called strike three - ending the marathon game nearly 40 hours after it was suppose to begin Friday night.

"Wow, without a doubt a rollercoaster of emotions," said FAU head coach John McCormack after the final out. "We hung in there, coming back after a night in the hotel thinking about this one... our guys got back to work - credit (Louisiana-Lafayette) with some good at-bats against (Hugh) Adams - but an important and character building win for this team."