Saturday's result: FAU 4, ULL 3
Walk this way
Scheffler's 17-pitch walk pivotal at-bat in FAU's 4-3 victory at ULL.
Originally published on
3/27/2010
by
Chuck King
> Audio: Highlights from Saturday's game
As walks go, Dan Scheffler’s was suitable for framing.
It was also the most important at-bat in FAU’s 4-3 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday.
Trailing 3-2 with a runner on first and one out in the top of the eighth, Scheffler fouled off pitch after pitch, until the 17th offering of the at-bat missed inside for ball four.
Colby Gratton promptly lined the next pitch to right for an automatic double, bringing in Andy Mee to tie the score.
Scheffler then came home on Nick DelGuidice’s sacrifice fly to center, converting that mammoth battle at the plate into what became the game-winning run.
Starter Mike Gipson didn’t have his best stuff early, but still managed to stick around for eight innings to earn his fifth win of the season.
“I just kept competing out there and we kept battling,” said Gipson, who allowed three runs on nine hits with five strikeouts in eight full innings to remain perfect on the season. “I told my coach, if we got the lead in the eighth I was going to stay in.”
Mee, who tied the game at 1 in the fourth with a home run, finally relieved Gipson in the ninth and tossed a perfect frame to notch his third save of the season.
“He’s a tremendous player,” FAU coach John McCormack said. “I don’t know where we’d have been without him.”
GameBrowser: FAU 4, ULL 3
Moving forward: Anthony Mesa’s hitting – he went 2-for-2 with a home run, walk and a steal. …Mee was 3-for-5 and scored two runs. …Dan Scheffler’s lone hit was a double.
Moving backward: Anthony Mesa’s fielding – the fifth inning two-run triple that came after he dove for a ball and missed was excusable, but Gipson kept Mesa from becoming a goat after the centerfielder misplayed kept Kyle Olasin’s leadoff single in the seventh, allowing Olasin to get to third. …Leadoff hitter Raymond Church went 0-for-4. …Mike Albaladejo was 0-for-3
Stat download: FAU has not lost a game when leading after 8 innings.
Up next: FAU will send Kevin Alexander to the mound against ULL righthander Michael Cook (1-1, 3.45) at 1 p.m. to try to take the series from Louisiana-Lafayette.
Worth a Re-Tweet: FAUOwlAccess.com's Twitter updates from Saturday's game
- RHP Mike Gipson vs. LHP T. J. Geith. Anthem just finished. First pitch moments away.
- FAU retired in order. ULL turns a leadoff double into a run. 1-0 Gipson appears to be looking for the feel of his curveball. Cajuns after 1.
- Owls`go down in order again in the second. Geith has his changeup working. ULL1, FAU 0 mid 2
- Owls get first baserunner when Mesa HBP but can’t move him further. FAU still trails ULL 1-0 heading to bot 2.
- Gipson produces his first 1-2-3 inning. Owl batters about to get their second look at Geith. ULL 1, FAU 0 after 3.
- Leave it to Mee to get things going. His solo HR – 5th of the season – ties the game at 1-1 heading to bottom of 4.
- FAU gets two on base in the fifth but can’t get them home. Game still tied at 1 heading to Bottom 5.
- Porrier’s triple barely eludes the diving Mesa, bringing in two runs. Owls trail 3-1 after 5.
- Owls once again strand runners on second and third. ULL 3, FAU 1 mid 6.
- Contrast on the mound. Gipson getting a lot of fly balls. Geith has FAU batters pounding the ball into the ground. Ground usually wins.
- Mesa hooks a home run around the left field foul pole, chasing Geith. ULL 3, FAU 2 with a ULL pitching change in the seventh.
- Mesa plays a leadoff single into a three-bagger. Gipson gets out of it, though. Gipson looks like he’s done. ULL 3, FAU 2 after 8.
- Mee singles. Scheffler sees 17 pitches to draw a walk (not a typo). Gratton ground rule double ties game at 3. FAU runners on 2nd and 3rd 1 out. Pitching change
- DelGuidice’s sac fly to center plates Scheffler, giving Owls their first lead of game. FAU 4, ULL 3, mid-8. Rooks takes over for Gipson.
- Gipson is the man. He’s through 8, thanks to a double play where interference was called at second. FAU 4, ULL 3.
- Owls get runners on first and second in 9th but can’t score. Mee time? FAU 4, ULL 3.
- Mee retires side in order. FAU wins 4-3. Owls will try to win the series tomorrow. Story coming shortly.