Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Florida Atlantic
17-11, 5-4
Louisiana
16-11, 6-3
Baseball Falls Drops Series Finale to Louisiana-Lafayette 5-2
4/3/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 3, 2011
Lafayette, La. - The Florida Atlantic University baseball team couldn't hold onto an early lead and dropped Sunday's series finale to the University of Louisiana-Lafayette 5-2 at M.L. "Tigue" Moore Field in Lafayette, La. The win completed a three-game sweep of the Sun Belt Conference series for the host Ragin' Cajuns.
The Owls' record falls to 17-11 on the season and have a 5-4 mark in league action. ULL improves to 16-11 overall and a 6-3 record in league play. FAU returns to the field on Tuesday, April 5, when it battles Florida Gulf Coast University, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
FAU got off to a strong start, grabbing a 1-0 lead on junior outfielder Alex Hudak's RBI single to left-center field that scored senior second baseman Raymond Church.
That lead would hold up until the fifth inning when a bases-loaded walk to Lance Marvel brought home Alex Fuselier with the tying run. However, the full-count pitch skipped away from junior catcher Mike Albaladejo, allowing Greg Fontenot to score another run on the play, giving ULL a 2-1 advantage. After a pitching change, Daniel Nichols had an RBI single through the left side of the infield to score Mike Petello and the Ragin' Cajuns enjoyed a 3-1 lead.
The Owls would threaten in the seventh inning, loading the bases. Then, Louisiana-Lafayette relief pitcher Matt Hicks balked to allow senior outfielder Colby Gratton to come home from third base. However, FAU could capitalize on the situation no further. After a pitching change, reliever Joey Satriano struck out Hudak and senior shortstop Nick DelGuidice grounded out to second base to end the bases-loaded threat.
Florida Atlantic's offense stranded 10 runners on the base paths in Sunday's contest after leaving 11 runners stranded on Saturday.
ULL capped the scoring by adding two runs scored in the seventh inning. Ragin' Cajun starting pitcher T.J. Geith picked up the win to improve to 3-2 on the season. The left hander allowed two runs in six innings. Satriano recorded his first save of the season tossing 2.2 scoreless innings.
FAU starting pitcher R.J. Alvarez falls to 3-2 on the season after allowing three runs in 4.2 innings. The sophomore recorded six strikeouts and allowed three hits in the contest.
Church and Hudak paced the Owls' offensive attack with each player tallying two hits in the game. Overall, the team had six hits on the afternoon. Senior infielder Sean Bukovich went 1-for-1 with three walks, while junior catcher Mike Albaladejo lined a double in the fifth inning to round out the offensive production.
ULL was led by Nichols' two hits, while also driving in one run and scoring once as well. The Ragin' Cajuns had eight hits in the victory.
Tuesday night's game with the Eagles will be played at the FAU Baseball Stadium, 777 Glades Road on the Boca Raton campus.
Season and individual tickets of Florida Atlantic baseball games are available by calling the FAU Ticket Office at 1-866-FAU-OWLS.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Geith, T.J. (3-2)
L: Alvarez, R.J. (3-2)
S: Satriano, J (1)
Batting:
2B: Albaladejo, Mike 1
RBI: Hudak, Alex 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Church, Raymond 1 ; Gratton, Colby 1
SB: Albaladejo, Mike 1 ; Mee, Andy 1
HBP: Albaladejo, Mike 2 ; Mee, Andy 1 ; Burkhalter, Joey 1
Batting:
3B: Fuselier, A 1
RBI: Marvel, L 1 ; Nichols, D 1 ; Frederick, T 1 ; Sinclair, C 1
SH: Fuselier, A 1 ; Frederick, T 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Fuselier, A 1 ; Fontenot, G 1 ; Petello, M 1 ; Marvel, L 1 ; Nichols, D 1
SB: Fontenot, G 1
HBP: Fontenot, G 1
PO: Fontenot, G 1
