FAU shortstop Nick DelGuidice throws on to first to complete a double play in the fifth inning of the Owls' 6-4 loss to Oregon St. in the opening round of the Gainesville Regional. (FAUOwlAccess.com photo)
Dam frustrating
NCAA Regionals: Florida Atlantic can’t come up with clutch hits when it gets runners on as the Owls fall to Oregon State 6-4 in an NCAA Regional game in Gainesville on Friday.
Originally published on
6/4/2010
by
Marcus Nelson
GAINESVILLE – Florida Atlantic was making its first appearance since 2005 in the NCAA Regionals against Oregon State, a team that won the College World Series the next two seasons after the Owls’ most recent trip.
The Beavers’ edge in post-season experience showed as they jumped on FAU early and held for a 6-4 victory Friday at McKethan Stadium in the first game of the Gainesville Regional.
“We had some opportunities early and didn’t capitalize on it,” said Owls coach John McCormack. “We just didn’t have enough and they certainly pitched well and did a nice job.”
The loss drops FAU into the loser’s bracket of the Regional and into an elimination game against the loser of Friday’s game vs. Florida and Bethune-Cookman.
The Owls (35-23) had their chances early in the game when they had two runners on with only one out in each of the first two innings, but both times FAU, the No. 2 seed, failed to score.
“We have to better early in the game and put some pressure on them and make them chase us a little bit, but we weren’t able to do it,” McCormack said.
It didn’t take long for the No. 3 seed Beavers (32-22) to capitalize on the Owls’ shortcomings as they took a 2-0 lead in the second inning on a homer by Oregon State’s No. 8 hitter, Tyler Smith off starter Mike Gipson.
Gipson (8-2) had more trouble than Oregon State starter Greg Peavey dealing with a 3 hour 15 minute rain delay that stopped play just before the game was to start.
Gipson had already warmed up before umpires called for the tarp just before Gipson threw his last warm-up pitches.
“It didn’t affect me that bad,” said Gipson, who allowed six runs in six innings pitched. “I kind of stiffened up, but I had an opportunity to get loose. I just had some bad luck I guess could you could say.”
The Beavers broke through in the top of the fourth when they sent eight men to the plate and scored four runs.
The Owls didn’t get their first runs of the game until the sixth inning when junior shortstop Nick DelGuidice hit a two-run homer off Oregon State starter Greg Peavey.
“We felt like we were hitting him pretty good all day, but we couldn’t string them together,” said DelGuidice. “I felt that gave us a little bit of energy, but it wasn’t enough, I guess.”
Peavey (6-3) pitched 6.1 innings, allowing two runs while striking out seven.
FAU also had two runners on with one out in the seventh, but Mike Albaladejo grounded into an inning-ending double play.
The Owls cut the Beavers’ lead to 6-4 in the bottom of the eighth inning when Dan Scheffler and Eddie Cassidy hit solo back-to-back home runs off OSU reliever Ryan Gorton.
“I thought they gave us a lift,” McCormack said. “Their guy was doing a pretty good job against us. We hit one and then another to make it 6-4. That’s right in our comfort zone, but they pitched brilliantly down the stretch.”
NCAA Regional
Florida Atlantic (35-23)
vs. Bethune-Cookman (35-21)
- When: Saturday, 1 p.m.
- Where: Gainesville
- Radio: Streaming live
- TV: Sun Sports
- Scouting the Wildcats: Official site
Pitching plans: Owls RHP Ryan Garton (6-3, 4.72) vs. Wildcats’ TBA
About the Wildcats: The Wildcats didn’t get their first hit until the 5th inning in Friday’s 7-3 loss to Florida. …The Wildcats are 1-19 in NCAA Regionals. …D.J. Leonard, a teammate of FAU outfielder Andy Mee, leads the Wildcats with a .429 average and was named MVP of the MEAC Tournament.
About the Owls: FAU is 10-14 in Regional contests. …FAU defeated Bethune-Cookman earlier this season 8-4 on April 28. …Catcher Mike Albaladejo has a nine-game hitting streak.
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- Beavers strike first when Smith hits a 2-run homer off Gipson…OSU 2, FAU 0 Top 2
- Owls have left 2 on in each of the first 2 innings…OSU 2, FAU 0 Top 3
- Smith with a single to right scores Jones who was on third after throing error by DelGuidice…OSU 3, FAU 0 Top 4
- Mee lays out to try to snare Bell’s lineup but comes up short and Bell has 2-RBI double…OSU 4, FAU 0 Top 4
- Jennette gets the Beavers’ fourth-straight hit. None of been hit really hard, but three runs are in this inning…OSU 5, FAU 0 Top 4
- Make that 4 this inning for Beavers on a wild pitch by Gispon…OSU 6, FAU 0 Top 4
- DelGuidice’s 2-run homer to left could be big if the Owls can get to Beavers bullpen…OSU 6, FAU 2 End 6
- FAU is going to the bullpen. Rooks in for Gipson (6ip 8h 6r 6er 3bb 5so)…OSU 6, FAU 2 Top 7
- Mesa doubles down LF line before Church singles to right. Gorton in for Peavey…OSU 6, FAU 2 Bot 7
- Gorton's first batter, Albaladejo grounds into inning-ending double play...OSU 6, FAU 2 End 7
- Morey in for Rooks, who did his job by retiring all 4 he faced…OSU 6, FAU 2 Top 8
- Scheffler’s solo HR clears the scoreboard and Cassidy follows with a big fly to left-center. Getting interesting here in Gainesville. …OSU 6, FAU 4
- Morey loads them up, but Morey gets out of jam. Pittman, Church, Albaladejo due up …OSU 6, FAU 4 Mid 9
- Church flies out to center……OSU 6, FAU 4 Bot 9
- Albaladejo pops up to SS …FINAL OSU 6, FAU 4