Alvarez's Gem Lifts Baseball Past Seton Hall

Saturday, March 12

Boca Raton, Fla.

1:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

11-6

Seton Hall

5-8

Seton Hall

Florida Atlantic

3/12/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 12, 2011

Final Stats

Boca Raton, Fla. - Sophomore starting pitcher R.J. Alvarez struck out six batters and scattered four hits in six scoreless innings as the Florida Atlantic University baseball team earned a 4-1 victory over Seton Hall University on Saturday afternoon at the FAU Baseball Stadium in Boca Raton. The Owls salvaged one game in its three-game series with the Pirates and the victory ended a three-game losing streak for the team.

FAU improves to 11-6 on the season and will return to the diamond on Tuesday, March 15, when it travels to the University of Miami. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. from Coral Gables. The Owls defeated the nationally ranked Hurricanes 7-4 on February 23 in Boca Raton.

Alvarez was in cruise control on the mound throughout the game, allowing only two base runners to reach scoring position across his six innings. He evened his record to 1-1 on the season. Meanwhile, junior reliever Josh Gonzaga pitched three strong innings to record FAU's first save of the season. He allowed one unearned run in the ninth inning on two base hits.

The Owls broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth inning after junior catcher Mike Albaladejo led off the frame with a double down the left field line. Senior outfielder Andy Mee followed with a single to put runners on the corners. Senior first baseman Dan Scheffler grounded into a double play, with no outs, but that allowed Albaladejo to score and give FAU a 1-0 lead.

Later, the hosts used two throwing errors by Seton Hall starting pitcher Greg Terhune to plate an unearned run in the sixth inning. Senior second baseman Raymond Church reached base on Terhune's errant throw to first base after fielding a bunt. A failed pickoff attempt moved Church to third base. That set up Albaladejo to line a base hit to center field that scored the Owls' second run of the game.

FAU added two insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh inning as a base hit by senior third baseman Sean Bukovich scored freshman outfielder Geoff Jimenez and junior outfielder Alex Hudak. Albaladejo paced the Owls' offense with three of the team's seven hits. Mee, Hudak, Bukovich and senior shortstop Nick DelGuidice each had one hit in the victory.

The Pirates, now 5-8 on the season, were led by Guiseppe Pappacio, who had two hits on the afternoon. He also scored the run in the ninth inning on a RBI single by Dale Anderson.

Terhune drops to 0-3 on the season after allowing two runs and recording four strikeouts in five innings.

Tuesday's game at Miami will be the Owls' first game outside Palm Beach County this season. The team will return to the FAU Baseball Stadium on Friday, March 18, to open defense of last season's Sun Belt Conference regular season title with the opener of a three-game series against FIU.

Season and individual tickets of Florida Atlantic baseball are available by calling the FAU Ticket Office at 1-866-FAU-OWLS.