University of Louisville
at Florida Atlantic
Cardinal Nine Rally Falls Short
February 18, 2006 | Baseball
Feb. 18, 2006
BOCA RATON, Fla. - Florida Atlantic pushed across a pair of insurance runs in the eighth inning after halting a University of Louisville rally in the top of the frame, to ensure a 7-4 win over the Cardinals on Saturday.
The final game of the series on Sunday has been moved up to 11:00 a.m. ET for travel considerations. Mike Lynn will make his first start of the season, and he will face the Owls' Joel Schmal (1-1, 16.20 ERA).
Louisville (0-3) loaded the bases in the first on a pair of infield singles by Boomer Whiting and Nick Haley that sandwiched a walk to Chris Cates. Logan Johnson then drew a free pass to push across a run and give the Cards a 1-0 lead.
The Cardinals extended their lead to 3-0 in the second. Daniel Burton opened the frame with a single up the middle and senior Kyle Carden, making his first career start, reached on a bunt single.
Whiting's sacrifice moved the runners over and Burton scored on a Cates single. Later in the inning, Carden was plated on a fielding error by the Owls (4-4).
Florida Atlantic scored four in the bottom of the second on two hits, two walks, two errors and a hit batter to take a 4-3 lead and Alex Fonseca's sacrifice fly in the fourth extended the advantage to 5-3.
The teams battled through a scoreless fifth, sixth and seventh before the Cards rallied in the eighth.
Burton's third hit of the game, a single to right, started things off and pinch hitter Michael Urti drilled the first pitch he saw to the alley in left, scoring Burton and closing the lead to 5-4.
FAU closer Mike McBryde came on to face Boomer Whiting and balked Pete Rodriguez, who was pinch running for Urti, over to third with one out. Whiting then walked, putting runners on the corners, but McBryde induced a double play ground ball by Cates to end the inning and the threat.
A pair of insurance runs in the eighth on a two-run double by Ovy Ramirez sealed the win for the Owls.
David Torcise (0-1) made his Cardinal debut as a starter, but struggled with his control, walking five in 3.2 innings while taking the loss. He allowed five runs, three of which were earned on four hits.
Scott Jenkins had an impressive outing, giving up just two hits and a walk in 3.1 scoreless frames, fanning three. Griffin Bailey worked the eighth, surrendering two runs on three hits and a walk.
FAU starter Chris Salberg (2-0) worked five innings to pick up the win, giving up three runs-two earned, on seven hits and four walks. He struck out a career-best eight. McBryde earned the save, his first.
