Feb. 2, 2007

Final Stats

The Florida Atlantic University baseball team opened the 2007 season on Friday night with an 8-1 win over Mississippi Valley State University on Friday night. The top of the Owls lineup provided six of the team's 11 hits while the pitching staff recorded 14 strikeouts.

Mickey Storey (Deerfield Beach, FL) received the opening day start for FAU (1-0) and held the Delta Devils' (0-1) offense in check. He allowed three hits and struck out eight, including five consecutive.

The Owls' offense got a slow start with two hits the first time through the lineup before back-to-back doubles by leadoff hitter William Block (Pembroke Pines, FL) and the number two hitter Daniel Bomback (Davie, FL) plated the first run of the game for FAU and tied the game at one. Bomback went 3-for-5 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBI. Block also went 3-for-5 and finished with an RBI and a run scored.

" I was pleased to see Block hit the ball so well in the leadoff spot," said Head Coach Kevin Cooney. "It was also great to see Daniel Bomback do so well in his FAU debut."

The offense then scored five runs in the next two innings as the bottom of the lineup did its job. Daniel Cook (Miami, FL) and Nick Arata (Davie, FL) posted three RBI in the bottom of the fourth inning for a 4-1 FAU lead.

Justin Phillabaum (Royal Palm Beach, FL) came out of the bullpen for FAU and worked 1 2/3 inning and struck out four. Alex Pepe (Deerfield Beach, FL) and Chris Eberhart (Lake Worth, FL) combined for 2 1/3 innings to close out the game and did not allow a hit.

"I was really pleased with Phillabaum's performance," said Cooney. "One of our strengths this year will be our bullpen and they pitched that way tonight."

Storey earned the win for the Owls, while MVSU starting pitcher Scott Reid suffered the loss (0-1). Reid lasted 4 1/3 innings and allowed five earned runs on eight hits.

The two teams will close out the series on Saturday with a doubleheader at 1 p.m.