April 25, 2006

With 14 games remaining in the regular season, Florida Atlantic University baseball's team is making its push for the post season. With a midweek game at south Florida rival, Florida International University and a three-game series against Jacksonville University this weekend in Atlantic Sun action, the Owls are looking to move up in the conference standings.

On Wednesday night at 6 p.m., the Owls will head to Miami for the second meeting of the season with FIU. The Golden Panthers have lost their last four contests after being swept by Sun Belt Conference foe, Louisiana-Lafayette last weekend and stand at 26-18 on the year. In the three games over the weekend, FIU was plagued by errors. The team committed 12 errors in the series which led to 11 unearned runs.

The team is led by Luis Bautista and Chris Dunn. Both carry a .362 batting average. Bautista is a power hitter with a .500 slugging percentage and three home runs, while Dunn leads the team with 20 stolen bases.

With a 2-0 record, Hakeen Francis is expected to make the start for Florida International. The right-handed pitcher has made one start and has worked 24 2/3 innings with a 6.20 ERA.

In a meeting between the two teams on April 4th, FAU left with a 13-7 victory. Tim Mascia finished the night 5-for-5 at the plate with three runs scored and two RBI to pace the Owls. FIU was plagued by errors which led to three unearned runs in the loss.

Returning home after seven road games, FAU will host the no. 2 team in the A-Sun in a three-game series starting at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Jacksonville University enters the series with a 30-13, 12-6 A-Sun record.

The Dolphins lead the A-Sun with a .311 batting average and a 3.63 ERA. Aaron Parvey and Matt Dobbins pace the pitching staff and the A-Sun with a 1.88 and 2.29 ERA, respectively. Dobbins will act as the no. 1 starter. The left-hander holds an 8-0 record in 82 2/3 innings. He has 53 strikeouts and 32 walks, while holding opponents to a .242 batting average.

Right-handers, D.J. Ackley and Tim Brown will start the final two games. Ackley is 4-3 on the year with a 5.30 ERA. In 74 2/3 innings he has struck out 66 and allowed 17 walks. In six starts this year, Brown holds a 3-3 record and has 66 strikeouts in 74 2/3 innings but has allowed eight home runs.

Offensively, Daniel Murphy leads the team with a .363 batting average and is third in the league with 62 hits and first in RBI with 43.

FAU leads the all-time series with the Dolphins 19-15 but lost year's series in Jacksonville with a one-run win in game one and a one-run loss in game three.

The Owls are coming off of their first extra innings game of the season; a 13-inning win over Belmont University on Sunday. The game tied the record for longest game in FAU's history.

Entering the week with a 22-19, 8-10 A-Sun record, the Owls are currently tied for sixth in the conference standings. With North Florida and Kennesaw State ineligible for post-season play due to reclassification, the remaining top-six teams will compete in the A-Sun Tournament in DeLand, FL.

As the team's designated hitter, Tyler Stevens holds a .330 batting average to lead the team. Outfielder Jordan Hafer follows with a .320 offensive clip and a team-leading six home runs. In A-Sun games, Hafer manages a .408 batting average and leads the team with 12 RBI.

Chris Salberg is expected to make the start on Wednesday night against FIU. The left-hander has made 11 starts this season and has pitched 61 innings and holds a 5.16 ERA. The junior has struck out 71, while allowing 32 walks.

The weekend rotation for the Owls is expected to be Mickey Storey, Brandon Cooney and Will Mann. Storey picked up a win last weekend to improve to 5-6 on the year with a 3.19 ERA. He leads the conference with 95 strikeouts in 84.2 innings. He will take the mound in the first game of the series on Saturday at 4 p.m. in the first game of the doubleheader.

Brandon Cooney did not allow a hit in the first six inning of his last start. The junior holds a 4.70 ERA in 51 2/3 innings. He is third on the team with 47 strikeouts.

Mann will be making his second weekend start of the year and will face off in the Sunday contest at noon.

Fans can follow live game action via the gametracker and live audio links at www.fausports.com.