May 6, 2008

Box Score

BOCA RATON, FL - Bethune-Cookman University scored seven quick runs to overtake Florida Atlantic University and win by a final score of 10-8 Tuesday, in what turned out to be four innings of resumed baseball at FAU Stadium.

The two schools, both perennial NCAA Regional qualifiers, had played four and ½ innings in Dayton Beach on February 26 before the game was halted due to rain and thunderstorms.

Florida Atlantic (25-21) lost its fourth straight.

Travis Ozga not only homered Tuesday, but had homered in Daytona Beach back in February before the game was suspended, increasing his 2008 home run total to ten.

Bethune-Cookman (33-18) jumped on FAU lefty Nick Melendres for six runs in just an inning and 1/3- three in the bottom of the fifth inning to immediately give the Wildcats the lead and three more were charged to Melendres (2-1) in the sixth, part of a four-run inning that put BCU up 10-4.

Osvaldo Torres had a three-run homer during the Wildcats' two-inning rally, officially going 1-for-1 and driving in four runs spanning the two days of action dating back to February 26.

The Owls responded by hitting three home runs out to right field in the seventh inning. Nick Arata led off with an opposite-field solo shot, his 11th. After Alex Silversmith doubled, William Block followed with an opposite-field homer to right and Ozga pulled a first-pitch offering from Darrin Young towards the scoreboard, closing the gap to 10-8.

It was the third time this season FAU has hit three homers in the same inning. The Owls entered the game 4th nationally among all Division I teams in homers per game (1.73).

Block went 3-for-5 officially, scoring twice and driving in a pair.

6-foot-3 220-pound BCU stopper Phil Enright pitched an inning and 2/3 to earn his seventh save, helping out Young (1-0) who was charged with five runs in two-plus innings.

GAME NOTES: Resumed with FAU leading 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth, runner on first base and no outs... Both lineups remained nearly identical, with both lefty Nick Melendres remaining in as the Owls pitcher and Darrin Young for BCU... Senior Daniel Cook, who has been shelved since a March 14th foot injury, returned to the FAU lineup remaining in the game as the third baseman and leadoff hitter... Cook singled in two at-bats before being lifted for a pinch runner... The opening game of a shortened doubleheader...The second game started at 4:30 p.m.