May 15, 2003

Heading into the final weekend of the regular season, No. 11 Florida Atlantic University holds all of the cards. With a single win over Stetson University in an Atlantic Sun conference three-game series, FAU could claim sole possession of the A-Sun regular season title. The series will open on Friday night at 7 pm followed by a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 pm at FAU Stadium. Fans can follow the action at www.fausports.com.

Stetson (35-18, 20-10) heads into the weekend after picking up a 7-1 victory over South Florida on Tuesday night. Sophomore John DeStefano pitched his first career complete game as the Hatters swept the season series over the Bulls.

Third baseman Brian Snyder leads SU with a .398 average and nine home runs. The senior is one of six team members named to the 2003 A-Sun Preseason All-Conference Team.

Left-handed pitcher Adam Townsend will start on Friday night for the Hatters. The junior has not recorded a decision since April 11 when he earned a win with a complete game one-hitter against Mercer. He struck out ten and allowed one run as the Hatters won 6-1. Townsend (3-2) holds a 4.36 ERA in 53 2/3 innings. He is second on the squad with 53 strikeouts and holds opponents to a .282 batting average.

Another junior, Cy McCuen, will face FAU on Saturday. The right-hander from Port St. Lucie, leads the team with an 8-2 record and 74 innings pitched. McCuen's two loses came against Texas-Arlington and Campbell University. His 3.77 ERA is lowest among the starters.

Danny Core (7-2), Randy Beam (11-1) and Chris Saxton (4-3) will start for an FAU pitching staff that holds a conference leading 3.17 ERA.Saxton leads the trio with a 1.96 ERA, Core leads the team in strikeouts (87) and Beam is third in the country in wins.

The FAU offense is just as potent with a .318 batting average to lead the conference. Rusty Brown (N. Fort Myers, FL), who is currently on a 17-game hitting, holds a .379 batting average with 10 home runs and 54 RBIs.

The last time the two teams met, Florida Atlantic defeated Stetson 10-3 at the 2002 A-Sun Tournament to eliminate the Hatters and move on to the championship game. During the regular season FAU took two-of-three from SU but dropped the third game of the series and snapped its 27-game winning streak. Stetson leads the all-time series 24-18.