Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.
Skip navigation

Previewing Rutgers game

Add topic

Post

The Scarlet Knights come into Boca Raton for their annual game during spring break versus FAU.  The Knights are 5-8 on the season and fresh off a 16-14 loss to Iowa in a tournament in Deland.

To say they are inconsistant might not do it justice. One day they are beating Georgia Tech 10-6 in 11 innings, next two days they lose 6-0 and then 9-5.  One day they beat Texas A&M 10-6, next two days they drop a close one before getting hammered.

This could be an interesting game for FAU, who plays their 7th game in 8 days and has a big series versus Middle Tennesee this weekend.  Cooney and the gang don't seem to run out their best versus these non-conference foes who are sandwiched in between conference series, but for some reason this game has always meant a little more.

LAST YEAR

The past 2 meetings FAU has faced the same Rutgers pitcher, Sean Spicer. Last year the Owls were all over the Knights pounding out 17 hits in an impressive 9-4 win.

William Block and Nick Arata each had 3 hits while Travis Ozga and Mike McKenna had a pair.

So the good news is we seem to hit Rutgers pretty well.  The bad news is Spicer graduated.

SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS

Offensively, Rutgers is hitting just .261 as a team led by catcher Jon Gossard (.339 BA).  All Big East player Tom Edwards hasn't yet lived up to his potential batting .273 but appears to be on base all the time sporting a .475 on base percentage.

The Knights are aggressive on the basepaths coming in with 19 stolen bases in 26 attempts.  A lot of that could be a result of the Knights not hitting with men on base.  Collectively they have left 114 men on base in 13 games, nearly 9 men a game.

On the flip side of that, opponents have stolen 25 bases in 29 attempts off of R.  Gossard and Rutger pitchers are having a hard time keeping runners at bay.

No real power hitters throughout the lineup as they have just 4 homeruns as a team. Gossard and Jaren Matthews lead the team with 12 RBI's each.

A lot of strikeouts for the Rutgers team, 5 players come into the game with more than 13 k's.  Not saying much as FAU is right there with them (124 as a team), only we seem to get the big hits and big innings when we need them the most.

No idea who the Knights will pitch tonight, but looking at their records… it really doesn't matter.  No one has done anything substantial.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Jon Gossard, Rutgers - Bats cleanup for the Scarlet Knights and leads the team in batting average (.339), hits (19), RBI's (12), and doubles (6).  If Rutgers can get men on in front of him, they could get those big hits that have fled them thus far this season.

Tom Edwards, Rutgers - Although struggling to put up impressive numbers, Edwards has hit the Owls well.  Went 2-for-4 last meeting.  FAU needs to keep him off base.

Mike McKenna, Florida Atlantic - Batting .392, 29 hits, 8 HR, 29 RBI and 21 runs scored.  He has hit the two longest HR's I have seen at our field. Enough said. McKenna assumed the Sun Belt Conference lead in home runs and RBI.

William Block, Florida Atlantic - 14 game hitting streak after getting off to a real tough start.  With Danny Cook out after fouling a ball off his foot, we shouldn't miss a beat with his production at the top of the lineup.

Adam Morrison should get the ball tonight, if I had to guess.  He is second on the team in strikeouts and has pitched really well in the middle of the games for us.  With a team that swings the bat at anything, this could be a really good "pick me up" for Morrison and may even get him in the starting rotation should Belliveau continue his struggles as he did versus Lafayette Saturday.


For those of you who are thinking about going, this game generally gets great crowds (no wonder when you consider it is a New Jersey school).

But if that doesn't entice you enough you should definitely come out for the Mike McKenna show. If the Sunbelt website took time to update their baseball statistics, I am sure we'd be talking about a guy who is in top 5 in almost every single offensive category.

Like things, love people.
Back to the top

Post

Re: Previewing Rutgers game

Fledgling said

If the Sunbelt website took time to update their baseball statistics, I am sure we'd be talking about a guy who is in top 5 in almost every single offensive category.

Lol…

We move up from the A-Sun to the SBC…one would think the TV exposure and "frill", like statistics, etc, would go up as well…

NOPE.

I mean cmon, the guy is one of, if not the best, offensive all around players in the SBC…

Get on it "Home Office"!
Back to the top

Post

Re: Previewing Rutgers game

Previewing Rutgers game

Their web site is sad.

Like things, love people.
Back to the top

Post

Re: Previewing Rutgers game

FAU Winning 2-0

ERROR: A link was posted here (img) but it appears to be a broken link.


TBRays.blogspot.com
Back to the top

Post

Re: Previewing Rutgers game

Travis with a 2-Run Shot

Mike McKenna with a solo shot

5-1 Owls in the bottom of the 5th inning

ERROR: A link was posted here (img) but it appears to be a broken link.


TBRays.blogspot.com
Back to the top

Post

Re: Previewing Rutgers game

Sorry wrong score

5-0 FAU!
Even Better

ERROR: A link was posted here (img) but it appears to be a broken link.


TBRays.blogspot.com
Back to the top

Post

Re: Previewing Rutgers game

did we win?

Back to the top

Post

Re: Previewing Rutgers game

Florida_Owl said

did we win?


 yea 10-1 
Back to the top

Post

Re: Previewing Rutgers game

In grand fashion. See my other post.  8)

Like things, love people.
Back to the top

Post

Re: Previewing Rutgers game

Nice...sound slike a solid showing from the mound! And the plate :)
Back to the top
Control functions: