Baseball falls 3-0 to Florida Atlantic

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Middle Tennessee had its chances including the tying run at the plate with two outs in the ninth inning but could not pull out a win falling 3-0 to Florida Atlantic Saturday afternoon at FAU Stadium.

Sophomore Hunter Adkins (0-5) had his best appearance of the season on the mound for Middle Tennessee (5-15, 0-5) working seven innings allowing three runs on five hits with three strikeouts. Adkins worked himself out of jams, with help from the defense, four times during the game including getting a strikeout in the seventh with runners at second and third.

R-sophomore Joey McClung entered the game in relief allowing no runs or hits in one inning of work.

The Blue Raiders outhit FAU nine to five with three batters recording two hits. Sophomore Dain McNabb, starting catcher, ended the day 2 for 3 with a stolen base, and had a number of solid defensive plays including an out at the plate. Juniors Justin Guidry and Matthew Drake also performed well each going 2 for 4.

"We were always right there but we just couldn't get the big hit or produce in the part of the lineup that needed to produce. I'm really glad to see Dain do well behind the plate. He threw a runner out and had a great play at the plate on the double steal. The bottom line is you have to hit and Florida Atlantic is doing what they have to do to win and we're not," head coach Steve Peterson said.

The Owls' (15-8, 4-1)Paul Davis (5-0) took the win after allowing nine hits and striking out seven batters in 8.2 innings of work. Davis was just one out short of the complete game when he was pulled with two runners on base. Adam Hugh faced one batter to pick up his first save of the season.

Nick Delguidice led all Owl hitters going 2 for 3 with a double and scored two runs. Sean Bukovich also had two hits on the day and scored a run. FAU ended the game with five hits including two doubles.

FAU put the first run on the board as Delguidice scored from third on a sacrifice fly to right field by Gratton.

In the fifth, Church doubled to the right field line scoring runs from second and third making it 3-0 in favor of the Owls.

Middle Tennessee and FAU will play the final game of the series at 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 27.

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