Feb. 8, 2003

Final Stats

In a dramatic come-from-behind victory in the bottom of the seventh inning, Mike Cox hit a three-run home run for Florida Atlantic University to give the team its first lead of the game against Bethune-Cookman College on Saturday afternoon. FAU managed to tack on two more runs in the eighth to finish with an 8-5 win.

Randy Beam got the start for FAU but found himself behind early after an unearned run scored in the first inning. A two-run shot by John Gragg in the third and a couple of hits in the B-CC fourth gave the Wildcats (0-5) a 5-1 lead.

Florida Atlantic (5-0) started to claw its way back as Beam shut down the B-CC offense and the FAU bats came alive. Jeff Fiorentino connected on his first home run of the season in the sixth inning before two walks in the seventh followed by a Fiorentino single brought FAU to within two runs. With two men on, Mike Cox stepped to the plate and provided the game winning hit, a three-run home run to left center field.

"Bethune-Cookman pitched well and we knew that we had to come up with a big inning in order to get back in the game," said head coach Kevin Cooney. "Rusty Brown did not hit as well today as he has earlier in the series but it was nice to see other hitters step up to the challenge."

Jeff Fiorentino finished the day with a 3-for-4 performance, two RBIs and a home run. Mike Cox improved his batting average to .471 when he went 2-for-4 with four RBIs.

Chris Saxton came out of the pen to shut down the Wildcats in the eighth and ninth innings and picked up his second save. The junior from Lake Worth, FL struck out three and allowed two hits.

B-CC starter Mumba Rivera pitched six strong innings as he struck out five and allowed four hits and two earned runs. Jashan Page took the loss as he entered in the seventh and gave up four earned runs. Page falls to 0-1.

FAU's home stand will continue on Wednesday, as Florida International University will travel to Boca Raton. Game time is scheduled for 7 pm.