Florida Atlantic University had its six-game winning streak snapped by the University of Arkansas-Little Rock Friday night, losing to the Trojans 16-7 in the Sun Belt Conference opener for both schools. UALR lefty Jake Sullivan won his third start in as many tries this season and the Trojans offense enjoyed season-highs in hits and runs.

Florida Atlantic (8-2) was coming off a win over No. 17 Florida Wednesday. Anthony Mesa was one of four FAU batters to have two hits.

Sullivan, a junior left-hander from Little Rock , who had originally attended Georgia Tech, extended his scoreless-innings streak to 19 to begin the 2009 season before the Owls broke through with a sixth-inning run Friday night.

By that time UALR (5-6) had established a 7-0 lead.

Eric Hanlon's double into the leftfield corner broke the scoreless tie in the fifth and Nate Brown followed with a 2-run drive down the right field line allowing the Trojans a 3-0 lead. Moments later Tim Emmons made it 6-0, pulling a 1-0 pitch from FAU starter Mike Gipson (1-1) over the fence in right field - a three-run shot in an inning that featured five Trojan extra-base hits.

The six-run, six-hit top of the fifth was followed by Sullivan tossing a one-two-three frame in the bottom of the inning. Sullivan finally surrendered a run in the sixth and FAU threatened to cut into a 7-1 deficit, loading the bases before Sullivan struck out Tom Hatcher on his 100th pitch to end the threat and the inning.

The Owls left nine men on base, managing seven runs on its 15 hits.

The Trojans offense put runners in scoring position with no outs in three-straight middle-innings and after Sullivan got the Trojans out of the fifth, the game's outcome was never in question.

Sullivan (3-0) worked into the eighth, allowing two earned runs and striking out five. Hanlon and Brown finished with four hits apiece and each drove in three runs for UALR. Matt Apfel homered and added three hits as did Tim Emmons.

The series resumes Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. at FAU Stadium.



Source:  Nick Mirkovich - FAU Media Relations