It's taken almost the full year, but I think I've finally figured out the FAU pitching staff. Basically, each individual is incapable of stringing together back-to-back good starts.

This "ride-the-pine" flu that that has infected the Owls started early in the season. Remember how good Friday Mike Gipson was in one start, only to be a complete mess in the next outing? Well, the virus has now infected most of the staff.

How else can Saturday's 11-4 loss at Arkansas St. be explained? One week after Ahmed Garcia delivered the Owls best pitching pereformance of the season, he couldn't get out of the second inning against the Red Wolves.

Barry Rooks, nearly unhittable out of the pen last week, followed Garcia by allowing the same amount of runs - four- as he got outs.

The pattern hold in reverse, too. On Friday Gipson, who allowed more runs than innings pitched a week ago, shut down the Red Wolves out of the pen as the Owls took the first game of the series.

Friday starter Adam Morrison, who melted down after being spotted a seven-run lead a week ago, did have his second-consecutive sub-par outing, but he tossed arguably FAU's second-best start of the season two weeks ago when he shut down Sun Belt leader Western Kentucky for 6 2/3 innings. Perhaps he hasn't been completely infected, yet.

The good news for FAU? Sunday starter Brent Adheen (photo) was absolutely awful last week, failing to record an out in Sunday's start against New Orleans. That's a good thing. FAU coach John McCormack said ealier this week that he can't imagine Adheen having another start like that. He's likely right - for this week anyway.

If Adheen does pitch like the guy who allowed an early home run to Western Kentucky then stymied the Hilltoppers two weeks ago, which according to the ride-the-pine virus theory he is on schedule to do, FAU should win the series finale.

Then McCormack has to bench him next week against Florida International in the final series of the regular season. Bench Gipson, too. That series will likely determine whether FAU reaches the conference tournament. Morrison, Rooks and Garcia should be the starting rotation next weekend.

Just look at this weekend's pitching performances. They've - ahh - earned it?

Make sure to check FAUOwlAccess.com to see whether the Owls can beat ASU on Sunday and take the series.

chuck

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