Another Davis Pitching Gem Leads Baseball Past Middle Tennessee

Saturday, March 26

Boca Raton, Fla.

4:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

15-8, 0

Middle Tennessee

5-15, 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Middle Tennessee	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	9	1
Florida Atlantic	0	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	X	3	5	0

Another Davis Pitching Gem Leads Baseball Past Middle Tennessee

3/26/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 26, 2011

Final Stats

Boca Raton, Fla. -

Coach Mack on Pitching Performance
Play of DelGuidice
Davis on Second Strong Outing

It was a different opponent, but the same script for the Florida Atlantic University baseball team on the second consecutive Saturday evening at the FAU Baseball Stadium. Junior right hander Paul Davis had another award-winning performance in a 3-0 victory over Middle Tennessee State University, giving the Owls the first two games of the weekend Sun Belt Conference series.

Davis struck out seven batters and scattered nine hits in 8.2 scoreless innings to pick up his team-leading fifth victory of the season.

FAU got timely hitting in the middle innings to score the three runs needed to improve to 15-8 on the season and 4-1 in league action. The team has won its past four games and has a 15-6 record at the FAU Baseball Stadium this spring. MTSU drops to 5-15 on the year and 0-5 in SBC play. The two teams will conclude the series on Sunday, March 27, with a game starting at noon.

The Owls' broke a scoreless tie by plating a run in the third inning on senior center fielder Colby Gratton's sacrifice fly. That scored senior shortstop Nick DelGuidice, who led off the frame with a double down the left field line before advancing to third on a base hit by senior third baseman Sean Bukovich.

The bottom of Florida Atlantic's batting order produced again in the fifth inning. Senior second baseman Raymond Church connected on a two-run double off the right field wall that scored DelGuidice and Bukovich. The shortstop once again led off the inning with an infield base hit. That was followed by Bukovich's single to put runners at first and second. A wild pitch by Blue Raiders' starting pitcher Hunter Adkins moved both runners into scoring position. Then, came Church's double.

That was all the offense Davis would need as he lowered his league-leading earned run average to a sparkling 1.30 on the season. A total of 84 of his 125 pitches went for strikes in the win. The junior college transfer has recorded 32 strikeouts and only three walks for the season.

DelGuidice paced the Owls' offensive attack with a pair of runs and two hits, including his 11th double of the season. Bukovich also added two hits and a run scored, while Church drove in two runs.

Middle Tennessee did make things interesting in the top of the ninth inning by bringing the game-tying run to the plate. Justin Guidry and Matthew Drake each had back-to-back singles off Davis. However, FAU junior reliever Hugh Adams silenced the threat by getting pinch hitter Jay Morris to pop up for the final out. The effort was Adams' first save of the season.

With nine hits, the Blue Raiders actually outhit the Owls (five) in the contest, but two doubles plays ended potential scoring threats for the visitors in the fourth and fifth innings. Guidry and Drake each had two hits to lead the team.

MTSU's Adams suffered the loss, dropping to 0-5 on the season, despite allowing three runs in seven innings.

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