March 10, 2005

Final Stats

Florida Atlantic University dropped an 11-inning contest to Boston College Thursday evening at FAU Stadium 7-6. In his second start of the season, freshman Mike McKenna finished 3-for-6 at the plate with a team-leading two RBI and a home run.

FAU (9-5) trailed for most of the contest after the Big East Player of the Week, Jared McGuire hit a three-run home run over the left field fence in the sixth inning for a 4-1 Eagle lead. Florida Atlantic slowly chipped away by scoring one run in the bottom of the sixth and seventh innings. Both runs came on McKenna RBI. The outfielder led off he sixth with a solo home run, his second of the year before he drove in Brian Lipman in the seventh from second base to close the BC lead to one run.

The Eagles (4-4) posted their fifth run of the contest in the top of the ninth. With FAU facing defeat in the bottom of the ninth with two out, Robbie Widlansky hit a ball through the right side to tie the game at five and send it to extra innings.

In the 11th, a pinch hit home run by Ryne Reynoso gave the Eagles a two-run lead that they wouldn't relinquish. FAU tried to make its second comeback of the contest as Daniel Cook led off with a single and scored on a Justin Martin single before a double play gave BC its first ever win over FAU. Florida Atlantic still holds a 3-1 series advantage.

Kevin Boggan (1-0) earned the win for the Eagles after he pitched the final three innings, while Allen Knight (1-1) suffers the loss for FAU after he worked the final 2/3 innings and allowed one run on two hits.

Conference play opens this weekend for FAU. The team will face Gardner-Webb University in a three-game series. A doubleheader is scheduled for Friday starting at 3 pm with a single game on Saturday at 1 pm. Taking the mound for the home team will be Chris Salberg, Mike Crotta and Will Mann.