March 20, 2008

Box Score

BOCA RATON, FL - Florida Atlantic scored a season-high 10 runs in the second inning, winning a one-sided affair with New Jersey Institute of Technology 21-11 Thursday.

The Owls fielded 15 different position players and used seven pitchers in its final tune-up in preparation for a three-game Sun Belt Conference series with Middle Tennessee State, which begins Friday night.

Florida Atlantic (13-6) has won four straight games and six-of-seven during its current ten-game homestand.

NJIT (2-13) finished its first Division I season 15-28 a year ago.

The Highlander's No. 1 starter, P.J. Saporito (1-4), was touched up for four runs in the first inning and was pulled after recording just one out in the second.

15 FAU batters hit en route to scoring 10 runs in the second inning off both Saporito and Chris Parenti. The NJIT pitching staff entered the game with a collective ERA of 10.15.

Holding leads of 14-0 and 17-2, FAU allowed senior pitcher's Mickey Storey, Brett Cannon and Brandon Kloess to take an at-bat.

William Block doubled twice, going 3-for-4 with two RBI. Block has hit safely in 16 straight games. Colby Gratton and Riaan Spanjer-Furstenburg both homered for the first time this season. For Gratton, a freshman from Miami, his home run to centerfield was his first hit in 11 collegiate at-bats.

Tom Segedin (1-0), who was making his first career appearance on the mound, was credited with the win after throwing a scoreless fourth inning.