Sanford Pitches USF by Florida Atlantic 2-1

Wednesday, April 1

Tampa, Fla.

6:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

15-10

USF

16-10

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

4/1/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

April 1, 2009

Final Stats | Action Photos

TAMPA, FL - USF received a terrific spot-start from Shawn Sanford and the Bulls' relief corps was able to close out Florida Atlantic University 2-1 Wednesday night.

Florida Atlantic (15-10) has lost seven of nine after starting the season 13-3. The Owls will look to rebound Friday night at FAU Stadium when they open a three-game Sun Belt Conference series against the University of South Alabama.

USF (16-10) - picked second behind the University of Louisville in the BIG EAST preseason coaches poll - plated two runs on groundball outs, but it was enough for Sanford and sophomore closer Kevin Quakenbush, who ended a bases-loaded FAU rally in the eighth with a timely strikeout.

It was the only scheduled game between the two Florida universities this season.

Sanford (1-2) struck out at least one batter in each inning and finished with seven K's and surrendered just four hits in seven innings. The junior from Cinniminson, New Jersey has been primarily used as a reliever at USF, owning 25 career saves which ranks among the programs' all-time best.

Five USF hits in the first three innings, including two singles to leadoff the bottom of the second, generated an early run on Daniel Rockhold's RBI grounder.

Anthony Mesa hit a one-out double in the fifth with the Owls trailing 1-0 and Tom Hatcher had doubled with two outs in the fourth. Both would be left stranded.

Two singles and a hit batter loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the fifth but Brent Adheen induced a groundball double play grounder, helping him pitch his way out of the jam by allowing just one run. Adheen (0-2) - a freshman from Ft. Lauderdale - was making his fourth straight midweek start. He scattered seven hits and allowed two runs in a season-high five innings.

With USF leading 2-0 in the eighth Sean Bukovich's pinch-hit single brought the tying run to the plate with one out. Then William Block singled and USF reliever Joe Cole plunked Hatcher on an 0-2 pitch, prompting Lelo Prado to call upon Quakenbush, who struck out Jeremy Griffiths with two outs and the bases loaded to protect the lead.

Quakenbush earned his fourth save despite Colby Gratton driving in Nick Criaris to break up the shutout with two outs in the ninth.

GAME NOTES: The Florida Atlantic starting lineup entered the game with 21 homers collectively, with every player having hit at least one - compared to USF's 6... 1B Travis Ozga (.368 BA) extended his hit streak to 17 games with a single in the sixth... FAU hitting coach Ben Sanderson was on the road recruiting, FAU head coach John McCormack served as the third base coach... One of just a few schools which have enjoyed a lopsided series advantage of over FAU, USF improved to 11-1 all-time against the Owls.