May 6, 2008

Box Score

Game One Recap: BCU 10, FAU 8

BOCA RATON, FL - Mike Gipson tossed his first career complete game, shutting down perennial NCAA Regional qualifiers Bethune-Cookman University to allow host Florida Atlantic University a 12-2 victory.

Gipson, a true freshman from nearby West Palm Beach, struck out seven, economically throwing 104 pitches to up his record to 4-1.

William Block led off the FAU second inning with his second home run of the day and went 3-for-5 in support of Gipson.

Florida Atlantic (26-21) entered the afternoon ranked 4th nationally among all Division I teams in homers per game (1.73).

Bethune-Cookman (33-19) remains odds-on favorite to make its ninth NCAA Regional appearance later this spring. The Wildcats are 33-2 in Mid-Eastern Atlantic Conference play over the past two seasons.

Gipson allowed single runs in the third and fifth, and the game was close, 5-2, until FAU broke it open by batting around in the bottom of the eighth- scoring seven times.

Nick Arata drove in four runs and went 3-for-4. For Arata it was his 21st multi-hit game of the season.

Sean Bukovich was 2-for-2, extending his hit streak to seven games.

FAU will host Florida Gulf Coast University (31-13; 21-6 A-SUN), the Atlantic Sun Conference leaders, Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m.

GAME NOTES: BCU had won the first game of Tuesday's quasi-doubleheader 10-8... Game One was a resumption of the school's February 26th game in Daytona Beach that was suspended due to rain and thunderstorms... FAU 3B Daniel Cook appeared in both games Tuesday, returning to the field for the first time since suffering a foot injury on March 14.