Feb. 20, 2004

Final Stats

Derek Hutton went 4-for-5 with two RBI as no. 16 Florida Atlantic University defeated George Washington University 7-1 in the first game of the three-game series. With the win, FAU improves to 8-0 and ties the 1985 season for the best start in school history.

Randy Beam (2-0) threw eight innings of shutout baseball as the FAU pitching staff only allowed one run in the ninth inning. Beam (Sarasota, FL) struck out a career-high 10 batters tying his record from last season in a game against Georgia State. The left hander only allowed five hits and did not allow a runner past first base until the fifth inning when he gave up consecutive base hits to Brad Rosenblat and Anthony Smith.

The offense gave Beam a cushion in the first inning as the first batter for Florida Atlantic, Derek Hutton (Palm Beach Gardens, FL) hit a home run off of George Washington (0-1) starting pitcher Dan Sullivan to left field. The second baseman would give FAU a 2-0 lead in the second as he hit a triple to the opposite field. GW right fielder Rosenblat made a diving play for the ball but was unable to come up with it as Hutton advanced to third and Jordan Hafer (Deerfield Beach, FL) made his way home.

Sullivan (0-1) exited the game after five innings as he allowed three runs on eight hits and struck out eight. Avi Rasowsky entered in the sixth and allowed four FAU runs to score in the eighth inning on six hits.

In the ninth inning, FAU closer Chris Saxton saw an unearned run cross the plate after the first batter of the inning, Anthony Raglani reached on an error. He would later score on an Anthony Smith single. Smith would get thrown out at second on the play to end the game.

The second game of the three-game series will be played at 7 pm on Saturday at FAU Stadium. Matt O'Brien will take the mound for FAU against the Colonials' Josh Wilkie.