Not that FAU has a quality starting pitcher (it's their bullpen that's a strength), but they are certainly gambling big time by throwing Soph RHP Kyle Marman against us in only his second start of the season-- a guy averaging just over 1 inning pitched per outing this year...

19 app, 1 start, 2-1, 23.0 IP, 4.30 ERA, .250 BAA, 10 BBs, 30 Ks

He is a power pitcher with very high strikeout frequency, and we do strikeout at an above-average rate-- even against sub-par pitching.

Here are the FAU game notes...

http://www.fausports.com/sports/m-basebl...17aac.html

...and stats...

http://www.fausports.com/sports/m-basebl...mcume.html

...and as I mentioned in another thread, Canterino MUST throw strikes if he hopes to survive this morning. FAU batters are extremely patient, averaging just under 7 BBs/HBPs per game, and will kill you with their power bats (67 HRs) if you fall behind in the count.

Thanks for the uplifting preview, Walt. I think I'll go vomit now. lol...

Sun Herald article

Here's the ESPN3 link...

http://www.espn.com/watch/?id=3074069&_s...ampionship

How's the weather?

Today's lineup...

Quote:Rice Baseball‏ @RiceBaseball 1m1 minute ago
More
Rice lineup: Proctor SS, Myers 3B, DiCaprio C, Gray 2B, Sheppard 1B, Dunlap DH, Chandler CF, Warren RF, Wunderlich LF, Canterino P. (9 am)

I like the construction, as well as the fact that Dunlap is now our permanent DH, even against RHPs. My one issue is that I'd probably start Sarchet in LF, instead of Wunderlich, against RHP. Dayne has been just as much of a defensive liability this year as Sarchet. I also probably would have inserted Chandler between Sheppard and Dunlap, especially against a RHP.

Terrific article on our "comeback" in College Baseball Central with quotes from The OG, Warren, Jefferies, Lammons and Gray...

https://collegebaseballcentral.com/endle...all/15714/

Play ball!

FAU expects Marman to go more than 2 - 3 innings.

Proctor with a great 10-pitch AB, and a leadoff double over the CFer's head.
Myers flied out to deep center, but deep enough to advance Proctor to 3B, one out. Need to put the ball in play here.
DiCaprio RBI ground out! Two down.
Gray first pitch opposite field bomb #5! Wind is blow out.
Sheppard first pitch ground out to SS.

Good guys take an early 2-0 lead heading to the bottom of the first inning.

2-0 Flying Owls over Walking Owls , middle of 1.

Quick 1-2-3 inning for Matt (all groundouts).

Dunlap leadoff walk!
Chandler first pitch fly out. I would have shown a little more patience there.
Warren flied out to CF.
Wunderlich infield single up the middle. Runners on 1B and 2B, two outs.
Proctor walked to load bases, two outs.
Myers ground out to 3B.

2-0 good guys heading to the bottom of the second inning.

Rice leaves the bases loaded in T2.

Rice 2
FAU 0

M2

Puerta continues to have Canterino's number. Matt walked him twice with a HR in Boca Raton; fell behind 3-0 on him before giving up a 3-2 HR. Lead cut in half.

DiCaprio leadoff bomb #6!
Gray soft bloop to 3B. One out.
Sheppard flied out to RF.
Dunlap struck ouit.

Good guys lead 3-1 heading to bottom of the third inning.

Matt's nemisis all season-- the leadoff free pass. HBP in this case, followed by a single...to the #8 and #9 hitters. No outs.

...but Matt showed great poise, getting a strikeoutKK, a fly out and a ground out to strand the runners. Very nice job.

Chandler ground out to 2B.
Warren bloop, opposite field single. One out.
Wunderlich bunts Warren to 2B. VERY strange call. Two outs.
Proctor pop to SS.

Good guys lead 3-1 heading to the bottom of the fourth inning.

That's it for me. Bring home a win!

1-2-3 in B4, and the game heads to T5 with Rice leading 3-1.

FAU solo shot.

Rice 3
FAU 2

1 out, B6

Rice adds a run in T7 after Wunderlich leadoff single to make it 4-2 after a Proctor sac bunt and then a Dicaprio double with 2 outs. Canterino back in for the B7 and strikes out the leadoff hitter

FAU goes in order in B7. Canterino has been great.

Canterino gets 2 k's and a groundout in the bottom of the 7th. 10 k's so far for him and up to 100 pitches according to gametracker.

Loving watching the game on ESPN3 while my wife drives on I-35 east of Wichita (toward our son's college graduation in Indiana this weekend).

Canterino is dealing!

Yay, Rice!!

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