Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Owls Prep for Sun Belt Championships in Troy
5/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 19, 2009
Tournament Notes in PDF Format 
TROY, AL - The Florida Atlantic University baseball team has arrived in Troy, Alabama for the Sun Belt Conference postseason tournament Wednesday, May 20 through Saturday, May 23. FAU (29-24) will be the league's No. 8 seed and prepare to face top-seeded Middle Tennessee State (38-15) in the first round. First pitch for FAU's tournament opener is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday.
TV/RADIO/INTERNET: All of FAU's postseason games at Troy can be heard live, free of charge, on www.FAUSPORTS.com. Steve Bishop (play-by-play) will describe the action from Troy. Fans can also follow the scoring live via GAMETRACKER. Additionally, the Sun Belt Conference will be offering a live video feed on www.SUNBELTSPORTS.org for a small fee.
STRONG FINISH: The Owls won back-to-back series to close out the regular season, taking 2-of-3 from both ASU and rival FIU. The Owls rallied to win a dramatic 12-inning game 10-9 over FIU Friday night to claim the series - a win that would eventually clinch FAU of a playoff berth. Senior 3B Troy Bubley (.295 BA) hit a game-tying double with two-outs in the bottom of the ninth to force extra-innings and DH Tom Hatcher (.308 BA) drove in the winning run in the 12th. Sophomore RH Glen Troyanowski (4-3; 5.26 ERA; 6 SV) struck out 9 of the 13 batters he faced in four-plus innings of scoreless baseball from innings 8-12 to facilitate the comeback. Senior leadoff hitter OF David Wilson (.340 BA) had his first career four-hit game in the series-clinching win.
FAU NOTES:
# FAU is under the direction of first-year head coach John McCormack
# McCormack was an 18-year assistant and associate head coach under Kevin Cooney who retired this past offseason.
# Owls are in its 3rd year in the Sun Belt after 12 years as a member of the ASUN
# The Owls are playing some of its best baseball of the season since starting the year 13-3. FAU had a 7-game winning streak in late-April prior to its strong finish in SBC play.
# 2B William Block (.337 BA) matched the school record for hits (290) by going 3-for-5 in FAU's regular season finale against FIU.
# RHP Mike Gipson (3-5; 5.83 ERA) pitched a combined 8 2/3 scoreless innings of long relief allowing FAU opening-game victories over ASU and FIU. Gipson struck out eight and walked just one in those two dominant outings.
# Closer RHP Glen Troyanowski (3-5; 5.83 ERA; 6 SV) was untouchable in extended relief Friday against FIU, striking out nine of the 13 batters he faced in four-plus innings of scoreless baseball from innings 8-12. Six K's were of the swinging variety and three batters were punched-out looking.
# SS Nick Delguidice (.321 BA) brings a 12-game hitting streak into the tournament.
# OF David Wilson (.340 BA) has taken over the team-lead in hits (69). The senior outfielder is 13 for his last 25 (.520 BA) with 21 total bases in FAU's last five games.
ROSTER & INJURY REPORT:
# It is unsure whether 2B William Block (.337 BA) will play in the Sun Belt Conference tournament due to an eligibility issue. Block has been an everyday player for FAU each of the past four years - no player in FAU history has started in more games (222). He holds or shares school records in hits (290), runs (221), RBI (191), total bases (498), at-bats (875) and assists (529).
# Senior team captain Nick Criaris (.321 BA) strained his oblique during his second at-bat in FAU's regular season finale against FIU Saturday and is doubtful to play this week.
# The Owls carry just two catchers, Criaris and freshman Mike Albaladejo (.327 BA). Look for 1B Travis Ozga (.309 BA) to back up Albaladejo if Criaris can not play.
# SS Nick Delguidice (.321 BA) is the only player to have played and start ed in all 53 games this season.
# After losing his starting job at midseason, RF Jeremy Griffiths (.262 BA) has gone 13-for-31 (.419 BA) with three homeruns in seven straight starts in right field - raising his average 43 points. Griffiths batted .342 last season but was hitting just .219 as of May 1.
Probable Lineup:
CF David Wilson (.340 BA; 69 hits; 7 HR; 10 SB)
RF Jeremy Griffiths (.262 BA; 5 HR; 28 RBI)
1B Travis Ozga (.309 BA; 13 2B; 38 RBI)
DH Tom Hatcher (.308 BA; 17 2B; 9 HR; 40 RBI)
SS Nick Delguidice (.321 BA; 40 runs; 68 hits; 16 2B)
3B Troy Bubley (.295 BA; 30 Runs; 8 2B; 8 SB)
LF Colby Gratton (.341 BA; 47 hits; 10 SB)
C Mike Albaladejo (.327 BA 18 H; 6 RBI; .429 OB%)
2B Joey Burkhalter (.360 BA; 9-for-25 on season)
Rotation:
LHP Barry Rooks (3-1; 5.00 ERA) - probable starter Wednesday
LHP Adam Morrison (3-2; 6.71 ERA)
LHP Ahmed Garcia (3-2; 5.54 ERA)
LHP Brent Adheen (0-4; 6.90 ERA)
RHP Mike Gipson (3-5; 5.83 ERA)
Bullpen:
RHP Glen Troyanowski (4-3; 5.26 ERA; 6 SV) - closer
RHP Chris Schmitt (5-3; 6.75 ERA; 2 SV)
LHP Alex Pepe (3-1; 4.28 ERA; 2 SV)
RHP Hugh Adams (3-2; 6.26 ERA; 3 SV)
RHP Lou Morey (1-0; 5.40 ERA)
RHP Ryan Garton (0-1; 5.82 ERA)
RHP Ryan Bernal (0-0; 9.88 ERA
PITCHING NOTES:
# LHP Barry Rooks (3-1; 5.00 ERA) is the probable starter Wednesday vs. MTSU, head coach John McCormack confirmed. Rooks opened the season as FAU's best starter. Rooks was 3-0 with a 3.03 ERA in his first five starts. He pitched 7 2/3 quality innings at MTSU March 25, allowing just two runs on five hits in a no-decision.
# The remainder of FAU's pitching rotation will be TBA, based on match-up and availability.
# The Owls have used 11 different starting pitchers this season.
# RH Mike Gipson (3-5; 5.83 ERA) would seem to be the likely choice to pitch in Game Two on Thursday against FIU or ULL. Gipson threw four shutout innings against FIU this past weekend and turned in a nice starting performance against ULL earlier in the year.
# Freshmen lefties Ahmed Garcia (3-2; 5.54 ERA) and Brent Adheen (0-4; 6.90 ERA) have each made three consecutive weekend starts.
# Look for senior LH Adam Morrison (3-2; 6.71 ERA) - FAU's Friday night starter - to be used at any time. Morrison has proved to be effective in big game situations throughout his two-year FAU career - including winning last season at the SBC Championships in Lafayette.
# LHP Alex Pepe (3-1; 4.28 ERA; 2 SV) and RHP Chris Schmitt (5-3; 6.75 ERA; 2 SV) have been the most often used set-up men this season, both appearing in 28 of FAU's 53 games.
# Pepe holds FAU's all-time record for career appearances (87)
# Freshman RH Hugh Adams (3-2; 6.26 ERA) began the year as FAU's closer and RH Glen Troyanowski (4-3; 5.26 ERA) was in the rotation. Troyanowski moved back to the bullpen in midseason and has been effective as of late closing games.
# Troyanowski has converted four-straight save opportunities to bring his season total up to six.
OFFENSIVE REPORT:
The possibility of playing without senior 2B William Block (.337 BA) creates a void in the FAU lineup. Block hit second or third in 40 of FAU's 53 games this season. Not only has Block shattered virtually every school record but he has hit .433 with RISP, and .396 with runners on base. Senior C Nick Criaris (.321 BA) may not play in the tournament either due to a strained oblique muscle. Criaris has 17 extra-base hits and 32 RBI this season. Their senior classmates 1B Travis Ozga (.309 BA) and DH Tom Hatcher (.308 BA) are both capable of providing power and run production in the heart of the order and one would think they would need to provide it this week for the Owls to make a run at the championship. Hatcher has been the team's most consistent slugger, hitting a team-leading nine homeruns and 17 doubles. Ozga had a 19-game hitting streak earlier this year. Leadoff batter David Wilson (.340 BA) has arguably been FAU's most valuable player. Wilson does any number of things well, setting the table for the batters behind him. The x-factor for FAU may be the play of senior's 3B Troy Bubley (.295 BA) and RF Jeremy Griffiths (.262 BA). Bubley hit a game-tying double with two-outs in the bottom of the ninth to force extra-innings in FAU's series-clinching win over FIU. Bubley may be called upon to move from third base to second defensively and move up in the order. Griffiths - who has been on a tear - has gone 13-for-31 (.419 BA) with three homeruns in the last seven games - raising his average 43 points. Griffiths batted .342 last season but was hitting just .219 as of May 1.
BLOCK REWRITES RECORD BOOK: Senior 2B William Block (.337 BA) matched the school record for hits (290) by going 3-for-5 in FAU's regular season finale against FIU. Block holds or shares school records in hits (290), runs (221), RBI (191), total bases (498), at-bats (875), games started (222) and assists (529).
FAST START: Florida Atlantic began the season 13-3, which included beating then-No. 17 Florida on the road. FAU scored 10+ runs seven times in their first 13 games.
QUOTABLE:
# "When the game is on the line I feel the adrenalin and feed off that," said FAU closer Glen Troyanowski, who baffled FIU in long relief Friday night. Only nine of his 57 pitches drew contact from Golden Panther bats. "That was the best I have ever pitched here."
# "I told the guys our work is not done," said first-year head coach John McCormack as FAU was battling for its playoff life last weekend. "We have to be ready to play tomorrow. We can not afford any lapses in our preparation or focus."
# "To get that hit for the guys meant a lot me," said William Block a four-year senior from Pembroke Pines who hit a three-run double in the eighth inning allowing FAU to beat ASU May 10. "We were pumped up as a team. Every game is important but it being late in the season and considering the situation, this was a huge win."
# "Wonderful job by Mike Gipson tonight, he threw 65 pitches and 44 were strikes," said Arkansas State head coach Tommy Raffo after FAU's series-opening win at ASU May 9. "We have our backs to the wall now."
MLB DRAFT PICKS: FAU has two current players who have been drafted by MLB clubs. Senior C Nick Criaris was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the 18th round after his prep career in New Jersey. Senior LH Alex Pepe was taken by the Texas Rangers in the 44th round in 2008 but decided to return to FAU for his senior season. Pepe was one of six Owls to be drafted by MLB clubs in 2008
VERSUS TOP COMPETITION: The Owls have proven they can play with anyone. FAU beat then-No. 17 Florida 7-6 in Gainesville on March 4 and played two close games against Miami in Coral Gables. On Friday, April 24 FAU knocked off Western Kentucky 3-1 in Bowling Green behind a dominant pitching performance by senior LH Adam Morrison (3-2; 6.71 ERA).
CLOSE GAMES: 25 of FAU's 53 games have been decided by two runs or less. The Owls have won 10 of 16 one-run games.
POSTSEASON HISTORY:
# The Owls advanced as far as the Super Regionals in 2002
# Four straight NCAA Regionals from 2002-2005
# 2008 Sun Belt Tournament Semifinals
# FAU is 4-4 all-time in the SBC Tournament (2 years)
# FAU lost a 5-4 semifinal game to WKU in 2008 which would have put them in the championship game
# Six NCAA Regionals since turning Division I in 1994
# Two NCAA Regional DII appearances (1983 & 1985)
2008 SBC Tournament
#5 Western Kentucky 9, #4 FAU 0
#4 FAU 12, #8 Middle Tennessee State 7
#4 FAU 4, #1 ULM 2
#4 FAU 6, #5 Western Kentucky 5
#5 Western Kentucky 5, #4 FAU 5 (semifinals)
2007 SBC Tournament
#3 Middle Tennessee State 7, #6 FAU 4
#6 FAU 7, #7 Western Kentucky 6
#3 Middle Tennessee State 7, #6 FAU 4
