MTSU Rolls Past FAU at SBC Tournament

Wednesday, May 20

Troy, Ala.

1:30 PM

Florida Atlantic

29-25

Middle Tennessee

39-15

Florida Atlantic

Middle Tennessee

5/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

May 20, 2009

Final Stats | Action Photos

TROY, AL - Co-Sun Belt Conference Champions Middle Tennessee State used an error and three first-inning walks to score four quick runs and cruised to a 12-2 victory over Florida Atlantic University in the first round the league's 2009 postseason tournament.

Drew Robertson's seventh-inning double put Middle Tennessee State (39-15) up by 10 runs, ending the game on account of the SBC's 10-run mercy rule.

Florida Atlantic (29-25) entered the eight-team, double-elimation tournament as the league's lowest seed. The Owls now must win four straight to make it to Saturday's title game.

MTSU batted-around in the first, fueled by three walks issued by Barry Rooks and Nick DelGuidice's error on a tailor-made double-play grounder. With the bases loaded Blake McDade dropped a double into the right-field corner, scoring two and MTSU led 4-0. McDade finished the day 3-for-5 with three RBI.

Rooks (3-2) issued seven walks, needing 114 pitches to get through 3 2/3 innings. With Lou Morey on the mound in the sixth, back-to-back doubles by Rawley Bishop and Zach Dean led to two more MTSU runs to push the lead to 9-1. Bishop went 4-for-5 and scored three times. MTSU lefty starter Kenneth Roberts (9-1) pitched all seven innings for the Blue Raiders, striking out one and allowing two runs on seven hits.

Travis Ozga hit a solo homer over the right-field façade off Roberts in the fourth and Mike Albaladejo was 3-for-4 with an RBI.

The Owls take the field early Thursday morning, facing rival FIU at 9 a.m. CT (local time). The fouth-seeded Golden Panthers were beat soundly by Louisiana-Lafayette 11-3 today. FAU and FIU are both in the elimation bracket after losing today.

GAME NOTES: The entire MTSU lineup bats above .300 helping MTSU rank No. 13 nationally with a team average of .341... An official scoring adjustment made the final score 12-2, rather than 13-2. Robertson's seventh-inning double scored two but after a review of the rules, Sun Belt officials counted just one... Freshman Joey Burkhalter went 1-for-3 with a run starting in place of senior William Block at second base... Block, one of the most accomplished hitters in FAU history, will not play in the tournament (eligibility).