Mike Albaladejo leads off the first inning of FAU's 5-2 loss to Boston College with a single. (FAUOwlAccess.com photo)
Missing the punch
Florida Atlantic's bats were quiet once again on Friday as the Owls fell to Boston College 5-2 Friday.
Originally published on
3/5/2010
by
Chuck King
BOCA RATON – Whatever confidence FAU batters took from the Owls’ 13-2 victory over Boston College during last weekend’s Auburn Classic, it didn’t carry over to Friday.
Eagles’ pitcher Pat Dean didn’t allow the Owls to string together back-to-back hits in his seven-plus innings, allowing Boston College to defeat FAU 5-2.
“He’s probably the best we’ve seen all year,” FAU (3-4) coach John McCormack said of Dean after the lefthander allowed two runs on four hits and lasted into the eighth inning.
Taylor Everist once again assumed the role of hard luck starter for the Owls. Friday wasn’t his best outing – he allowed four runs in five innings – but he still gave the Owls a chance to win.
For the third time in his three starts Everist failed to receive run support. The Owls fell to 0-3 on Friday, with all losses going to Everist. In those three starts the Owls have scored a total of seven runs – only three of which came while Everist was still in the game.
“I don’t think about it, because if I think about it it’s just going to mess with my head,” Everist said of the lack of offensive support. “My job is to keep us in the game and try to get us a win. That’s what I am going to do.”
Boston College scored all of their runs off Everist via the long ball. His issues started in the fourth when Anthony Melchiondra smacked a one-out double to right center. After a walk to John Spatola, Matt Watson drove the first pitch he saw onto the batting cages behind the right field wall, giving the Eagles a 3-0 lead.
The Eagles added another run the next inning when Robbie Anston led off the fifth with a home run.
“He made two mistakes,” FAU coach John McCormack said. “Other than that I thought he threw pretty well.”
Dean, meanwhile, cruised into the eighth inning before finally tiring. He walked Joey Burkhalter and Anthony Mesa to start the inning and fell behind Mike Albaladejo 2-0 before being lifted for a reliever.
Albaladejo eventually walked, loading the bases with no outs. Ryan Church’s single brought in the Owls’ first run of the game. Andy Mee followed with a sacrifice fly, but FAU could do no more damage.
“We had our shot in the eighth,” McCormack said.
GameBrowser: Boston College 5, FAU 2
Moving Forward: The lone hit allowed by Ryan Garton in his two innings of relief didn’t leave the infield. …Anthony Mesa recorded a single and a walk in his four plate appearances. …Second baseman Raymond Church recorded two hits – his second multi-hit game against the Eagles this season.
Moving Backward: Andy Mee, Dan Scheffler and Colby Gratton, the Owls’ No. 3, 4 and 5 hitters, were a combined 0-for-10. …Jason Boyer walked the only two batters he faced. …FAU stranded seven runners.
Stat download: 4 – potential base stealers thrown out by Albaladejo.
Up Next: FAU hosts Boston College on Saturday at 4 p.m. in the second game of a three-game series.