Baseball Rally Falls Short in Conference Opener

Friday, March 18

Boca Raton, Fla.

6:30 PM

Florida Atlantic

11-8, 0

FIU

13-6, 0

FIU

Florida Atlantic

3/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 18, 2011

Final Stats

Boca Raton, Fla. - The Florida Atlantic University baseball team scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning but the late-inning magic was halted in the Owls' 9-7 loss to FIU to begin Sun Belt Conference action on Friday night at the FAU Baseball Stadium in Boca Raton.

The Owls fall to 11-8 on the season while the visiting Golden Panthers improve to 13-6 after playing in the league opener for both teams. The two South Florida rivals will resume the weekend series on Saturday, March 19, at 4 p.m.

The three runs by the Owls drew the team within one run, at 8-7, in the bottom of the seventh inning. Senior outfielder Colby Gratton scored the first run on a RBI single by senior outfielder Andy Mee. Then, junior outfielder Alex Hudak lined a single to left center field that scored Mee and senior first baseman Dan Scheffler.

FAU threatened again in the bottom of the eighth inning following a walk by senior second baseman Raymond Church and a single by Mee. However, a strikeout ended the rally.

FIU starting pitcher Phil Haig got the victory, improving to 3-0 on the season, after allowing five runs in 6.1 innings. Four of the runs came in the first inning and he didn't allow a run from the second through sixth innings. Relievers Mason McVay and Bryan Garcia shut down the Owls to preserve the victory. Garcia recorded the final four outs - striking out three of the five hitters he faced -- to record his third save of the season.

Lead-off hitter Pablo Bermudez and No. 2 hitter Jeremy Patton each had three hits to lead the Golden Panthers' 15-hit offensive attack. Mike Martinez drove in two runs, had a solo home run and went 2-for-5 at the plate, and T.J. Shantz hit a solo home run. Both solo homers proved to be the margin of victory.

Meanwhile, Hudak continues to pace FAU's offensive attack, having three hits and having two RBIs. Scheffler and Gratton each added two hits while senior shortstop Nick DelGuidice drove in two runs.

The Owls roared out of the gate in the game, scoring four runs in the first inning to grab an early 4-2 advantage. DelGuidice dribbled a base hit up the middle to score junior catcher Mike Albaladejo and senior outfielder Andy Mee to tie the score at 2-2. Then, senior designated hitter Eddie Cassidy was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to give the hosts a 3-2 lead. DelGuidice later scored on a sacrifice fly to center fielder by junior infielder Joey Burkhalter to cap off the hectic opening inning.

FIU knotted the score at four in the fourth inning and took the lead on a Jabari Henry solo home run to left field. The Golden Panthers added two runs in the sixth inning, and solo runs in the seventh and eighth innings.

Junior reliever Josh Gonzaga (3-2) suffered the loss for Florida Atlantic after starter Ryan Garton left in the fourth inning. Hugh Adams also appeared on the mound in the final two innings.

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