Baseball Wins Season Opener 12-4 over Hofstra

Friday, February 18

Boca Raton, Fla.

6:30 PM

Florida Atlantic

1-0

Hofstra

0-1

Hofstra

Florida Atlantic

2/18/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Feb. 18, 2011

Final Stats

Boca Raton, Fla. - It may have taken a few innings for the Florida Atlantic University baseball team to find its rhythm, but the Owls finally hit their stride for a convincing 12-4 season-opening victory over Hofstra University on Friday night at the FAU Baseball Stadium.

After spotting the visitors a 3-0 lead in the first two innings and trailing 4-3 in the fifth inning, FAU tied the game that same inning and eventually took the lead, 6-4, in the sixth inning on a two-run home run over the right field fence by senior Andy Mee. Then, the Owls left the Pride behind one run in the seventh inning and five runs in the eighth frame.

"We were able to get past the early events of the game," said John McCormack, FAU's head baseball coach. "Offensively, we got clutch hitting with eight of our runs coming with two outs."

Senior shortstop Nick DelGuidice was the Owls' offensive star, going 5-for-5 with six RBIs, including a two-run home run as part of the explosive eighth inning. Left fielder Alex Hudak and designated hitter Eddie Cassidy both had two hits in the game.

FAU scored its first run of the season in the bottom of the second inning with a double by senior Nick DelGuidice driving home Cassidy, who led off the inning with a single. Hudak, a junior, would score the second run of the frame on a groundout from junior catcher Mike Albaladejo.

Delguidice was once again the offensive catalyst in the bottom of the third inning with a single to center field scoring first baseman Mark Nelson to cut Hofstra's early lead to a 4-3 advantage. Later, Delguidice's third hit tied the game, 4-4, by pushing across Cassidy.

FAU used base running to manufacture a run in a seventh-inning rundown as Delguidice advanced to second base. During the play, Hudak surprised Hofstra by scoring from third base.

The Owls' relief pitching staff shined in the season opener, tossing six shutout innings. Junior left-hander Josh Gonzaga picked up his first career win by tossing three strong innings, surrendering just two hits and recording a strikeout. Junior right-hander Hugh Adams retired all six batters he faced as the Owls tacked on valuable insurance runs.

"Josh and Hugh pitched outstanding and kept us in the game," acknowledged McCormack. Junior lead-off hitter Danny Poma was the shining star for Hofstra, having four hits and scoring a run.

Nationally ranked FAU returns to the field on Saturday at 4 p.m. for the second game of this three-game weekend series Hofstra. Live audio and statistics are available at www.fausports.com. Season and individual tickets are on sale by calling the FAU Ticket Office at 1-888-FAU-OWLS.