May 24, 2008

Box Score |  Action Photos 

LAFAYETTE, LA - Senior Chris Eberhart was perfect, setting down all 11 batters he faced in relief and classmate Alex Silversmith hit a three-run homer as Florida Atlantic University eliminated No. 1 seed University of Louisiana-Monroe from the Sun Belt Conference Championship in Lafayette, Louisiana Friday night.

Fourth-seeded Florida Atlantic (31-26-1) needed the win to stay alive in the double-elimination, eight-team tournament. The Owls move on to face No. 5 seed Western Kentucky University Saturday at 1:30 p.m. ET.

FAU jumped out in front 1-0 on an RBI fielder's choice by Silversmith in the bottom of the first inning. Mike McKenna's ground-ball single that bounced over the head of ULM shortstop Ben Soignier put runners at the corners with one out, setting-up the opportunity for Silversmith to drive in the game's first run.

Silversmith ended ULM starter Drew Graham's night in the third inning by hitting an opposite-field three-run homer off Graham on a 0-2 pitch. Graham had allowed a lead-off single to Jeremy Griffiths to begin the inning and issued a walk to McKenna to put two runners on.

Graham (2-5) was touched up for four runs - all driven in by Silversmith in the first three innings - and was lifted after 52 pitches. Closer Derek Ward was summoned from the bullpen in the third inning to allow ULM (34-24) a chance at a comeback.

Ward did just that, retiring 18 of the 20 FAU hitters he faced. Both Matt Collins and Soignier had RBI base hits in the middle innings, narrowing FAU's early 4-0 lead down to 4-2 after five complete frames.

The lead may have disappeared if it was not for Silversmith's defense. The senior from Coral Springs, Florida, ended ULM threats to put crooked numbers on the scoreboard in both the fourth and fifth by cutting-down base runners to end both innings.

FAU starter, left-handed junior Adam Morrison (3-2), pitched effectively into the sixth. Morrison scattered five hits and received help from Eberhart, who came on after Morrison's 99th pitch to strike out two ULM batters to retire the side and a Warhawk scoring threat in the sixth.

Eberhart matched Ward inning-for-inning, striking out four of the 11 he faced and not allowing as much as a base runner.

"Our pitchers pitched a superb game against a great hitting team," said FAU head coach Kevin Cooney. "Our offense and defense both played great. Tomorrow we will just show up and see what we can do. We have to keep playing hard."

The Owls will have to win two games against WKU on Saturday for a chance to play for the league title Sunday.