Four-Run Comeback Lifts Owls to Sweep

Sunday, April 19

Boca Raton, Fla.

1:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

22-16

Bryant

26-14

Bryant

Florida Atlantic

4/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

April 19, 2009

Final Stats | Action Photos

BOCA RATON, FL - Clutch two-out hits by senior's William Block and Travis Ozga highlighted a four-run Florida Atlantic University comeback in the eighth inning Sunday, as the Owls swept Bryant University in a four-game weekend set, winning the finale 5-4.

The Owls received an outstanding performance from freshman starter Brent Adheen, who allowed just three hits in 7 1/3 innings but Bryant would score three times in the top of the eighth, forcing the Owls to rally. Block hit a two-run triple which tied it at five and Ozga followed with the go-ahead single. Classmate Troy Bubley sparked the comeback with a lead-off double off the fence in right field.

Florida Atlantic (22-16) has won five straight and improves to 19-7 on its home field at FAU Stadium. Block was 3-for-5, which included his game-tying triple. FAU overcame 11 base-runners it left on base.

Bryant (26-14) starter Eric Polvani and Adheen were locked in a pitcher's duel through seven innings. Polvani fanned seven and allowed just one-run on a Nick DelGuidice solo homer in the fourth. After throwing 134 pitches and watching the Bulldogs' offense break-open a 1-1 game with a 3-spot in the eighth, Polvani was lifted for closer Mark Andrews (1-3) who was touched up for the decisive runs, allowing five hits and four runs, blowing the save and suffering the loss.

Adheen allowed a run on a pair of singles and a walk in the first inning but then retired eight straight Bryant hitters and went six consecutive innings without allowing a hit. Adheen was terrific, allowing just one over the minimum from innings 2 through 7.

The game was tied 1-1 when Pat McKenna broke up Adheen's hitless-innings stretch with a one-out single in the eighth. After Adheen issued his second walk of the inning John McCormack called upon the Owls' bullpen with hopes of preserving the tie. With the bases loaded and one out Nick Campbell hit the first pitch he saw from Chris Schmitt (5-2) into centerfield to give Bryant a 2-1 lead. Pat O'Conner drove in another on a single to center and an RBI groundout put Byrant up 4-1 before Schmitt was able to retire the side.

Having stranded 10 base runners through the first seven innings, the Owls were still in search of a timely hit but would receive a number of them during the game-changing rally in its half of the eighth. Bubley got things started with a lead-off double. Anthony Mesa came through with an RBI single and moments later Block cleared the bases with two outs, lining a 2-RBI triple to right-center on 1-2 pitch from Bryant closer Mark Andrews. Ozga plated Block with an RBI single up the middle to complete the comeback - putting FAU in front 5-4.

Glen Troyanowski registered his fourth save, but not before Bryant threatened by putting the tying run at second base with two outs.

SERIES NOTES: The Owls swept Bryant (9-5, 12-10, 13-5 and 5-4)... SS Nick DelGuidice (.336 BA) homered on both Saturday and Sunday... DelGuidice finished the four-game series with Byrant 8-for-15 (.533) with two doubles and two homers - he leads the team in hits (51)... 2B William Block (.314 BA) drove in 10 runs in the four game set, including breaking the school's all-time record for career doubles (52)... As a team FAU had 15 extra-base hits... 13 of the 14 FAU batters to come to the plate registered a hit in the series... OF Jeremy Griffiths (.245 BA) started all four games and went 3-for-4 with a 3-run homer in Game Two Saturday... 3 of the 4 FAU starting pitchers earned winning decisions... Left-handed freshmen starters Brent Adheen and Ahmed Garcia allowed just seven hits in 13 2/3 combined innings, helping the entire staff limit Bryant to a .252 opposing BA... RH sophomore Glen Troyanowski earned two saves to bring his season total up to 4 - tops among FAU relievers... Senior LH Alex Pepe set the program's all-time record for pitching appearances (80) when he came on to save Game One of Saturday's doubleheader... Prior to the series-opener Friday night there was a brief ceremony on the field recognizing FAU's record-setting team of 1999; attending alumni threw out the ceremonial first pitch... That 1999 Owls' squad still holds the NCAA record for consecutive wins (34) en route to finishing 54-9 and qualifying for FAU's first DI NCAA Regional.