March 30, 2007

Final Stats

Mike Obradovich threw a complete game and struck out a career-high 13 batters as Florida Atlantic University defeated Arkansas State University 5-2 Friday night at FAU Stadium. The win also gave Coach Kevin Cooney his 700th victory at FAU.

"Obradovich pitched a great game," said Head Coach Kevin Cooney. "He came out and threw strikes which was a must. I am real happy for him."

The junior from Tuscaloosa, AL struck out a career-high 13 batters in his first complete game. His strikeout total is the most since Danny Core recorded 13 against Jacksonville on May 17, 2001.

Obradovich held the Indians (10-17, 3-7 Sun Belt) to two runs on eight hits and did not walk a batter. He held ASU hitless until the fourth inning. With two outs, the team pieced together three straight singles to plate the first run. Another run on three hits in the seventh was all of the offense the Indians could muster as Obradovich struck out the side looking in the ninth inning. With the win he improves to 5-2 on the year and the Owls record climbs to 20-10, 3-7 Sun Belt.

FAU's offense picked up two runs in both the third and fifth innings. Two singles by Justin Martin and Travis Ozga to start the third was followed by a two-run single by Daniel Bomback as FAU took the early 2-0 lead.

Back-to-back homer by William Block and Daniel Bomback made the lead insurmountable for the Indians in the fifth with a 4-1 advantage. It was the second time this season that Block and Bomback have had back-to-back shots. Bomback finished the night 2-for-3 with three RBI to lead the Owls.

Nathan Gates suffered the loss after 5 1/3 innings of work in which he allowed five runs on 10 hits.

The win ends a six-game skid in conference play and is the first-ever Sun Belt victory at FAU Stadium.

The three-game SBC series continues on Saturday at 7 p.m. at FAU Stadium.