June 4, 2002

BOCA RATON, FL - Fresh off leading their school to its first NCAA Regional title, members of the Florida Atlantic University baseball team learned Tuesday they were among those selected as the Major League Baseball Draft got under way.

LJ Biernbaum, Tom MacLane, Nelson Lopez, and Tim McNab, all seniors, were drafted as 22 rounds of the draft were complete. In addition, Chris Kroski, one of several players to commit to FAU in last fall's early signing period, joined the list of five current and future players to be selected on Tuesday.

Biernbaum, an outfielder who leads FAU in homers and RBIs, was selected by the San Diego Padres in the 10th round. The Boston Red Sox drafted left-handed pitcher MacLane in the 19th round while Kroski also went in the same round to the Seattle Mariners. MacLane is 4-2 on the year with a 3.51 ERA. Kroski is a transfer from St. Petersburgh Junior College.

Lopez, who made two crucial starts for FAU in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament and the NCAA Regional, went in the 22nd round to the San Francisco Giants while the New York Mets selected McNab, also a pitcher, in the 22 round. McNab leads the team with 12 saves to go along with a 3-2 record and a 2.17 ERA.

Florida Atlantic (46-19), ranked no. 15 by Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, is coming off last weekend's NCAA Regional championship in Tuscaloosa, AL. The team next takes part in its first Super Regional this weekend against Georgia Tech in Atlanta, GA. The best-of-three series begins Friday and runs through Sunday with the winner advancing the College World Series.