Saturday's Result: FAU 9, Alabama 2
Two from the Tide
FAU improves to 2-0 on the young season with another impressive victory at Alabama on Saturday.
Originally published on
2/18/2012
by
Marcus Nelson
Florida Atlantic’s offense got started early vs. Alabama on Saturday and it had nothing to do with the game being moved up two hours to beat an expected rainstorm.
The Owls struck for two runs in the first to show that Friday’s unexpected victory over the Crimson Tide was no fluke and kept adding on to defeat Alabama 9-2 to win the second game of a three-game series at Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
After Kyle Newton’s 2-RBI single with two outs in the first inning gave the Owls an early lead, Alabama answered with a run in the bottom of the first.
However, Owls starter Jake Meiers (1-0) settled down after that and didn’t allow another run before he was replaced by Kevin Alexander in the seventh.
FAU added two more runs in the fifth on an single by Mike Albaladejo that didn’t leave the infield and a two-out single by Alex Hudak.
In all FAU pounded out 14 hits off four Alabama pitchers, including a two-run homer by outfielder Geoff Jiminez in the ninth inning.
FAU pitcher Kevin Alexander allowed a run off two hits to earn the save.
Game Browser: FAU 9, Alabama 2
- Owl Star Performance: A day after Ryan Garton pitched a gem vs. Alabama, FAU P Jake Meiers was solid as he gave up just a run is six innings of work. The Owls are making an early case that they might have a pretty good 1-2 combination in the weekend rotation.
- Moving forward: 2B Mike Albaladejo was 3-for-5 with an RBI from the leadoff spot. …OF Alex Hudak drove in two runs and was 2-for-3 with a double. …OF Geoff Jimenez was 3-for-5 and had a 2-run homer in the ninth inning.
- Moving backward: OF Nathan Pittman was 0-for-3 and is 0-for-7 on the season. …SS Mitch Morales committed the first error of the season for the Owls.
- Key stat: FAU has only swept a three-game series from an SEC team once. The Owls won three games vs. Kentucky in 1999.
- Up next: The Owls go for three-game series sweep vs. Alabama at 1:05 p.m. on Sunday. It will be FAU’s Jeremy Strawn vs. Alabama’s Justin Kamplain.