TicketsFeb. 9, 2007
BOCA RATON, Fla.---Brian Szarmach and Josh Harrison both homered, but Cincinnati's ninth inning comeback fell just short as Florida Atlantic grabbed a 4-3 win on Opening Day for the Bearcats. UC had an opportunity in the ninth, but left the tying and go-ahead runs on base as FAU took the win.
In the ninth, pinch-hitter Nick Maragas was hit by a pitch with two out and Tony Campana drew a walk from FAU's Joel Schmal to set the stage for Adam Yeager. With the count full, Schmal induced a Yeager pop up to short to preserve his first save of the year. Florida Atlantic is now 4-0 with the win.
FAU starter Mickey Storey (2-0) was dominant, surrendering just Szarmach's fourth inning blast and striking out eight in five innings of work. Four relievers took it from there as the Owls finished the night with 14 strikeouts.
Storey was able to outduel Cincinnati ace Steve Blevins who fell victim to three early runs by Florida Atlantic. Blevins was solid, striking out four in five innings and walking just two.
UC stayed close despite being limited to only five hits. Harrison's home run in the eighth extended his career-best hitting streak to 16 games, covering the end of the 2006 season and Friday night's tilt. Szarmach collected a pair of hits for the Bearcats.
The Owls forced the Bearcats into playing catch-up the entire evening, scoring twice in the first and adding another marker in the second. With a man on and one out in the first, Robbie Widlansky drove a double to right and one hitter later, Mike McKenna's RBI groundout staked the home team to a 1-0 lead. Tyler Stevens then reached on a swinging bunt that a hard-charging Harrison gloved, but Widlansky scored on the play. Further damage was prevented when UC catcher Ryan Baker threw Stevens out trying to steal. FAU added its third run in the second on an RBI groundout by Nick Arata.
Cincinnati finally cracked the scoreboard in the fourth on Szarmach's 18th career homer, a solo shot to right. Florida Atlantic got the run back on a Justin Martin sacrifice fly in the bottom of the inning and then put runners on second and third with two outs. Blevins showed true toughness though, freezing William Block for a looking strike out.
When Blevins departed after five innings, Billy Welsh took the mound for the first time as a Bearcat and responded with three shutout innings and three strikeouts.
UC got as close as 4-3 when Harrison went yard in the eighth, but could get no closer as Schmal struck out two in the final inning and a third.
FAU finished the night with eight hits, with Widlansky and Stevens gathering two apiece.
The two teams will converge for game two on Saturday with a 2 p.m. first pitch. UC will send sophomore lefty Dan Osterbrock to the mound, while FAU counters with senior right-handed Brandon Cooney.