Andy Mee leads the Sun Belt in hits following this weekend. (FAUOwlAccess.com photo)
Rivalry with meaning
Both FAU and FIU have a chance to claim the Sun Belt's regular-reason title during this week's season-ending series.
Originally published on
5/19/2010
by
Chuck King
A year after fighting for their lives simply to qualify for the Sun Belt Conference tournament, the Owls are ready to welcome Florida International to Boca Raton with the conference title on the line.
Should FAU win two in the three-game series that begins on Thursday, FAU will claim its first Sun Belt regular season title.
“I think the position that we are in is exactly what we wanted,” FAU coach John McCormack said.
FAU enters the final series of the regular season alone in first place at 19-8. Four other Sun Belt teams could end up in at least a tie for the conference title by Saturday evening.
At 16-11, FIU is one of those teams. To do so, the Panthers need to sweep the Owls and receive some help from other teams.
The scenario stands in stark contrast to last season, when FAU took two-of-three from their rivals to the south but still needed a final day loss by New Orleans to claim the eighth and final seed.
“Control your destiny at the end of the year- that’s the best,” FAU shortstop Nick DelGuidice said. “Last year we had to pray people lost to get in. This year we are fighting for a championship.”
McCormack doesn’t figure the events of last season will have much of an effect on the play of this series, pointing out that this years’ FAU squad doesn’t have many players who took part in that series.
It’s the way FAU has played this season which provides the skipper's confidence.
“Our guys match up well with them,” McCormack said. “We know a lot of their guys. They know a lot of our guys. They’ve got to come on the road and beat us. The pressure is on them.”
Like FAU, FIU has gotten on a bit of a late-season role in conference play. While the Owls sat idle last weekend, the Panthers swept South Alabama. The Owls, who took two of three from the Jaguars to vault into first place the previous weekend, have taken notice.
“In the beginning of the season and in the middle of the season, this wasn’t really a team to worry about,” rightfielder/Andy Mee said. “Now they have pulled a sweep of South Alabama. We know they are a good team.”
FAU (31-19, 19-8 Sun Belt)
at FIU (30-20, 16-11 Sun Belt)
- When: Thursday, 6:30 p.m.; Friday 6:30 p.m.; Saturday 1 p.m.
- Where: FAU baseball stadium
- Radio: Streaming live
- Scouting the Panthers: Official site
Pitching probables: Thursday - FIU RHP R. J. Fondon (4-2, 3.54) vs. FAU RHP Ryan Garton (6-2, 4.83). Friday – FIU RHP Scott Rembisz (7-4, 4.75) vs. FAU RHP Mike Gipson (7-1, 3.30). Saturday – FIU RHP Aaron Areboleya (4-2, 4.61) vs. FAU RHP R. J. Alvarez (3-1, 3.80).
Scouting the Panthers: Garrett Wittels’ current 45-game hitting streak is the third longest in NCAA history. …None of FIU’s probable starting pitchers started a game in the series against FAU last season, but Scott Rembisz (2 IP, 2 ER) and Aaron Areboleya (1 IP, 0 ER) both appeared in relief. …Jabari Henry’s 11 home runs and 50 RBI leads FIU. …Reliever Eric Berkowitz’s 31 appearances is tied for the most in the conference. …FIU’s 86 errors is tied for the most among Sun Belt teams.
Scouting the Owls: Dan Scheffler’s .507 on-base percentage is second best among Sun Belt qualifiers. …Andy Mee has a chance to lead the Sun Belt in hits. His 86 base knocks leaves him one behind MTSU’s Blake McDade. Mee’s 11 saves is two more than any other Sun Belt pitcher….FAU’s 49 errors is the least among Sun Belt teams. …Friday starter Mike Gipson appeared in two of the three games against FIU last season, tossing four scoreless innings to earn a save in the opening game; then allowing three earned runs in 1 1/3 innings in the series finale.