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Owls Take Game Three & Series; Block Sets FAU RBI Record

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William Block (pictured) broke FAU's all-time RBI record on a three-run triple in the eighth inning which gave Florida Atlantic University a 10-6 comeback victory over Arkansas State University Sunday.



Photo: fausports.com

Florida Atlantic (27-22; 10-16 Sun Belt) will need a strong finish in its three-game regular season finale with FIU but Block's heroics kept the Owls in the mix for a berth into the league's postseason tournament May 20th through 23rd.  Click HERE for Conference standings.

The Owls trailed 6-5 with one-out in the eighth when Block cleared the bases by lining a 2-2 pitch from ASU reliever Chris Bullington into the right field corner. Block's line drive one-hopped the wall and forced a long relay throw which got away from the ASU third baseman. Block scored on the play, setting off an extended celebration in front of the FAU dugout.

"To get that hit for the guys meant a lot me," said Block a four-year senior from Pembroke Pines . "We were pumped up as a team. Every game is important but it being late in the season and considering the situation, this was a huge win."

Arkansas State (20-29; 10-17 Sun Belt) falls behind FAU in the league standings and will most likely need to sweep the University of Arkansas-Little Rock next weekend to keep its season alive.

Just how important was Sunday's game? Both team's closers appeared in the middle-innings.

Glen Troyanowski (3-3) was called upon to get starter FAU starter Brent Adheen and senior reliever Chris Schmitt out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the sixth. Troyanowski was fantastic in getting three straight outs to keep the game tied at 4-4.

But Troyanowski and company literally gave away the lead in the seventh. Three Troyanowski walks followed a leadoff error, generating another bases-loaded, no-out situation with the game tied 4-4. This time Troyanowski could not escape unscathed. A wild pitch pushed in the go-ahead run and after his fourth walk of the inning, a passed ball put FAU behind 6-4.

ASU needed just five hits and three RBI to score its six runs.

Nick DelGuidice began the FAU eighth by hitting a solo homer to centerfield. Troy Bubley followed with a walk and ASU closer Nick Lampert - who had struck out the first four batters he faced - was pulled in favor of 6-foot-2 senior Chris Bullington. Colby Gratton reached on an infield single and with one out Bullington plunked Jeremy Griffiths on an 0-2 pitch, setting the stage for Block's game-changing triple.

"He is a great hitter, a senior, middle of the order guy," said ASU head coach Tommy Raffo about Block. "He is a tough guy to pitch to and he got a pitch to hit and made us pay."

Alex Pepe struck out three of the seven batters he faced in two scoreless innings of relief to close the door on ASU.

FAU returns to SBC action this Thursday when they take on SBC rival FIU in the first of three games to conclude the 2009 season.


Source:  FAU Media Relations
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Re: Owls Take Game Three & Series; Block Sets FAU RBI Record

Owls Take Game Three & Series; Block Sets FAU RBI Record

Nice article by ArkansasSports360.com:

"Block had a big hit in the eighth that really hurt us," said ASU coach Tommy Raffo.  "But the bottom line is that we had opportunities with runners at third base and less than two outs and didn't capitalize.  If you execute, your chances to win the ballgame elevate big-time. We didn't execute and that hurt."

"I was very proud of the way the guys fought back today," added Raffo. "We were down a couple of times and came back from that. It was a very tight game all the way through until they broke it open with five in the eighth."

Source:  ArkansasSports360.com

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Re: Owls Take Game Three & Series; Block Sets FAU RBI Record

Florida_Owl said

"Block had a big hit in the eighth that really hurt us," said ASU coach Tommy Raffo.  "But the bottom line is that we had opportunities with runners at third base and less than two outs and didn't capitalize.  If you execute, your chances to win the ballgame elevate big-time. We didn't execute and that hurt."

In the interview for the head coaching position of any sport, the Athletics Director always asks you to craft a sentence using the following words: "opportunities", "capitalize" and "execute."

If you can, you're in. Otherwise they'll "keep your information on file."
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