March 14, 2007

Final Stats

Mike McKenna delivered a grand slam in the second inning to ignite Florida Atlantic University's offense on the way to a 13-7 win over Northern Illinois Wednesday night at FAU Stadium. The Owls improve to 17-4, while the Huskies fall to 5-5.

The Owls jumped out to a 7-1 lead as the team struck with two homers in the first two innings to bring the team's season total to 42 homers. Daniel Bomback hit a solo shot in the first inning for his ninth roundtripper of the season. It was also his third homer in his third consecutive at bat including Tuesday night's contest.

Bomback picked up another RBI in the second with a single and was one of three bases runners on when McKenna stepped to the plate. The junior picked up the club's fourth grand slam of the year with a shot to rightfield.

The Huskies rallied with a run in both the fourth and fifth innings. Three straight base hits loaded the bases before a sacrifice fly by Bobby Stevens pushed the second run across for NIU in the fourth. Another sacrifice fly in the fifth allowed an unearned run to score.

Chris Eberhart exited after five innings for the Owls. The junior improved to 2-0 after he gave up two earned runs on seven hits. NIU starter Mark Badgley suffered his second loss of the year after he allowed eight earned runs on 10 hits and struck out four in five innings.

After FAU responded with two runs in the bottom of the fifth, Northern Illinois once again responded with four runs in the eighth inning to reduce the deficit to two runs. The squad loaded the bases which allowed a ground out and a two-run single from Scott Simon to push three runs across.

Once again Florida Atlantic expanded the lead to 13-7 with four runs in the bottom of the frame as the first four batters singled and Robbie Widlansky doubled to increase FAU's hit total to 17 on the night.

Bomback, Widlansky and McKenna each recorded three hits for FAU, while Simon and Jeff Thomas both added three hits for NIU.

"With the lineup we had in because of injuries and sickness we played a real good game," said FAU Head Coach Kevin Cooney. "We need to keep our hitters going into the weekend."

FAU will return to conference play this Friday when the team hosts Troy University in a Sun Belt Conference series. Troy was the 2006 conference champion and was picked to win the league in the Preseason Sun Belt Poll. Game times are set for 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday with Sunday's contest set for 1 p.m.