What:      Princeton (0-0) at Florida Atlantic (6-2)

When:      Fri, Mar. 2 at 6:30 p.m.
              Sat, Mar. 3 at 1:00 p.m., 5:00 (DH)
              Sun, Mar. 4 at 12:00 p.m.


Where:    FAU Baseball Stadium


Live Stats  Here


Series:      Although it's been a while since the last meeting (1999), the Owls own the all-time mark at 3-1.



Projected Starting Pitchers:

Friday:      FAU - RHP Ryan Garton (2-0, 0.69 ERA, 15 K, 3 BB in 2012)
              PU - RHP Zak Hermans (5-2, 3.18 ERA, 55 K, 21 BB in 2011)

Saturday:  FAU - LHP Bo Logan (0-0, 15.19 ERA, 3 K, 1 BB in 2012)
              PU - RHP Mike Ford (5-4, 3.95 ERA, 38 K, 17 BB in 2011)

Saturday:  FAU - TBA
              PU - RHP Kevin Link (0-1, 2.93 ERA, 15 K, 11 BB in 2011)

Sunday:    FAU - LHP Austin Gomber (0-0, 4.15 ERA, 4 K, 4 BB in 2012)
              PU - RHP Matt Bowman (2-7, 5.05 ERA, 45 K, 8 BB in 2011)






Miami pounced early behind a grand slam on Wednesday, but FAU posted a respectable five runs of offense against the #8 team in the land before falling 10-5 in Coral Gables.

2B/C Mike Albaladejo continued his hitting streak (8 games) and went a healthy 3-for-4, which has bolstered his average to .545 on the year. He remains solid defensively as well, being error free in 47 chances. RF Alex Hudak is also alive at the plate for eight straight games.

From a power perspective, Florida Atlantic is well ahead of last season. Already with 11 shots over the wall in 2012, the Owls had just 35 total in 2011 while playing 57 contests.

Of note, FAU sports a 70% win percentage at home under Head Coach John McCormack.

The Tigers will officially take the diamond for the first time on the year Friday night. Coming off a 23-24 overall and 15-6 mark in Ivy League action for in 2011, they were picked by CollegeBaseballInsider.com to once again win the conference. Princeton placed three players on both the first and second teams in preseason polling.

C Sam Mulroy returns as the leading offensive threat for the Tigers after having posted a .320 average with 39 RBI in 2011, while right handers Zak Hermans and Mike Ford will be looked upon to continue and anchor the mound.

Princeton made their 11th appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2011, losing to then #5 Texas 3-5 and Texas State 1-3.

Albaladejo gettin' some love from ESPN today, and so is FAU!

"Sweeping Alabama was one of the top three highlights of my career," said Albaladejo. "We answered a lot of questions."

Don't sleep on Florida Atlantic

Game One:

FINAL:

PU 11  FAU 4


The Tigers (1-0) had the better pitching in game one, holding the Owls scoreless through eight complete innings.

Conversely, Florida Atlantic (6-3) surrendered runs in all but three innings (2 through 4).

FAU trailed 11-0 heading into their last at bat, and was able to avoid the shutout as Tiger closer A.J. Goetz gave up five walks which resulted in four runs for the home team.

Princeton starter Zak Hermans and middle reliever Ryan Makis were near flawless, stymieing FAU for only two hits before the ninth inning and producing 13 strikeouts in the process.

Mike Albaladejo saw his hitting streak end with an 0-for-4 showing at the plate, and no FAU player had more than one hit on the evening.

Alex Hudak stayed alive to move his mark to eight games thanks to a single in the 4th.

Ryan Garton (5 2/3 IP, 9H, 5ER, 2K's) took the loss for the Owls.

The team will look to regroup in tomorrow's doubleheader, which begins at 1:00 p.m.

Game Two:

FINAL:

PU 1  FAU 9





Bo Logan threw six innings, giving up just four hits and striking out six, as Florida Atlantic (7-3) pulled even with the Tigers in a 9-1 win of game two on Saturday afternoon.

After Friday night's disappointing loss, it would be FAU's time to return favor by holding Princeton scoreless until their last at bat.

The Owls led 4-0 after three complete innings, but had their biggest frame in the 5th, plating five runs on five singles, and three Tiger walks.

Catcher Mike Spano led Florida Atlantic with a 3-for-4, 2RBI performance at the plate, and Alex Hudak and Mike Albaladejo each had two hits and 2RBI.

Julian Loret del Mol notched his first save on the year, tossing the game's final three innings, while giving up three hits and one run.

Game Three:

FINAL:

PU 2  FAU 6


The Owls made it two straight on Saturday evening, taking game three by a final score of 6-2. After surrendering 11 runs on Friday night, they have allowed just three in the last two games combined.

Sophomore RHP Kevin Alexander got the nod in place of an injured Jeremy Strawn, tossing 5 2/3 innings while giving up seven hits, two runs, and striking out three.

SB Rickey Santiago’s RBI double down the line gave the Owls the game’s first lead 1-0 in the bottom of the 2nd inning.

Princeton tied it up later in the 4th when Steve Harrington singled home fellow outfielder Sam Mulroy.

FAU would have another big 5th inning with four singles and Santiago’s second double bagger down the line that scored Nathan Pittman and Kyle Newton to go up 6-1.

The Tigers would add one final score in the top half of the sixth before R.J. Alvarez took to the mound in place of Ahmed Garcia.

Alvarez finished off matters from thereon, completing two innings of work while striking out three.

FAU will look to secure the series with a win in game four tomorrow at 12:00 p.m.

Game Four:

FINAL:

PU 8  FAU 5





Princeton pulled out an 8-5 win, as the team’s concluded the weekend series at a 2-2 draw.

With neither squad managing more than a hit, it was a pitchers duel through the first three frames. However that soon changed.

The Tigers (2-2) capped the afternoon’s first run in the top half of the 4th as a passed ball by starter Austin Gomber allowed 3B Jonathan York to cross the plate on a fielders choice.

The lead would be short lived thanks to a blast over the wall by 1B Mark Nelson, giving the Owls a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the inning.

Princeton would chase Gomber off the mound at their next at bat though, and eventually Ahmed Garcia as well. However, not before two runs crossed the plate to knot it up.

Josh Gonzaga got the call thereafter only to watch the Tigers pull ahead 5-3 when surrendering three singles coupled with a throwing error from normally reliable 2B Mike Albaladejo.

Now tapping their fourth pitcher on the afternoon, R.J. Alvarez took the hill for FAU in the 7th.  The junior walked two after a throwing error by 3B Mitch Morales which allowed the lead off batter to reach first. But Princeton had now pushed the score to 7-3.

With the Tigers bull pen now having a few struggles of their own, the Owls cut the margin to 7-5 in the 8th inning when Princeton walked in a run to go with Mike Spano’s SAC fly.

That was as close as they would get though, with the Tigers throwing in an insurance run during their last at bat.

Gomber took the loss for the Owls, who will next face #1 Florida on Tuesday in Gainesville.

a split, not bad... keep going owls.

This team was no joke in the pitching department...they will likely win thier league again.