DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Ranked No. 5 and owners of an eight-game winning streak, the Embry-Riddle Eagles will take on Webber International in three Sun Conference games this weekend at Sliwa Stadium. ERAU, 9-2 overall and a perfect 6-0 in league play, hope to keep a zero in their conference loss column.
The Eagles and Warriors have faced off 64 times in their respective histories, the majority of which have ended in ERAU victories. Embry-Riddle is 54-10 overall against WIU, and have won 18 consecutive times, dating back to March of 2006.
Last season in Babson Park, Fla., the Blue and Gold won three, two-run contests as All-American closer
Phillip Reamy picked up three saves for the Eagles. The first game of the conference set proved to be a pitching duel between ERAU's
Ryan Vigue and WIU's Rob Lane. Vigue gave up one run over eight frames, striking out seven, earning the win, while his counterpart surrendered just one run in seven frames, also fanning seven. With the game tied at 1-1,
Steve Sabins tripled to left field, then scored on a throwing error by the center fielder, the hit also drove in
Tyler Robbins, giving ERAU a 3-1 cushion, a lead that Reamy would hold in the ninth, giving the Eagles the victory.
The first game of the Saturday DH featured nine pitchers between the two squads, as each team's offense kept driving hurlers from the game. Sabins picks up five RBIs on four hits for the Eagles in the 10-8 victory, and it was Reamy again with the save, allowing
Robbie Ratliff to earn his second win of the 2011 slate.
Tucker Jensen pitched the final game for ERAU, holding the Warriors to two runs on four hits, while
Jordan Romero drove in a pair of runs in the Eagles' 4-2 win.
The 2012 season has featured strong offensive outputs from the Eagles, as
Randy Stegall's squad has averaged over 9.6 runs per game through the first 11 contests of the season. ERAU is hitting .329 (122-for-371) from the plate, collecting 93 RBIs on 106 runs. The Eagles' on-base percentage stands at .450, with their slugging percentage at .499. Embry-Riddle is 18-for-26 on the base paths, and have been impressive defensively, committing just 11 errors for a .973 fielding percentage.
Ian MacGeorge has led the Eagles all season from the dish, hitting .488 on 20-for-41 hitting, collecting 11 RBIs and scoring 13 runs. The senior from Winter Park, Fla. is second on the team with a .732 slugging percentage, and first on the Eagles with an on-base percentage of .580. He has reached base in every game of the 2012 season, joining
Adam Cellini as the only two Eagles to have done so.
Frankie Arias has hit .385 in 2012, scoring 13 times while drawing seven walks. The Caracas, Venezuela native leads the team with three sacrifice hits.
Senior first baseman
Chris Page leads the nation in doubles (7), home runs (4), total bases (35) and RBIs (18), pacing the Eagles in the power offensive categories.
Embry-Riddle's pitching staff will expect to improve on their 4.55 team ERA with the trio of
Adam Paulencu,
Chad Modomo and
Kevin Maloney earning the weekend starter roles.
Reliever
David Lidyard has impressed in his first three appearances in an Eagle uniform, posting a 0.00 ERA and garnering three wins in 5.1 innings. Maloney is 2-0 with a 2.14 ERA in three starts, while Modomo (2-0, 3.72 ERA) and Paulencu (1-0, 3.52 ERA) follow close behind.
Webber International is coached by veteran skipper, Brad Niethammer, the 25
th winningest active coach in the NAIA ranks. Niethammer is just one win shy of 500 for his career; he stands at 499-482 in 19+ seasons at the helm of WIU.
The Warriors are 3-5, having ended their four-game losing streak with a 5-4 home victory over Clearwater Christian on Tuesday. WIU split with Sun Conference rival Warner and NAIA No. 13 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.), but dropped a pair of decisions to NAIA No. 8 Faulkner (Ala.), and a single game to NCAA II Eckerd.
The Warriors have struggled offensively through their first eight games, hitting just .258 from the plate and scoring just 32 runs. Their pitching staff has kept them in games, allowing 37 runs and opponents to just a .266 average.
Outfielders Billy Farrell and Hunter Ovens and catcher Cody Barnes have been atop the WIU offensive production list this season. Farrell averages .375 with four RBIs, while 2011 first team All-Conference performer Hunter Ovens is hitting .364 with seven RBIs to his credit. Barnes is also hitting .364 on the season.
Ryan O'Gara and Rob Lane will be two of the Warrior starters on the mound this weekend. O'Gara enters with a 1.64 ERA and 2-0 record; he has tossed 11.0 innings, giving up just two runs. Lane has suffered three defeats and has a 4.85 ERA, but his 2011 numbers were impressive, leading his team in innings (101.1), wins (6) and ERA (2.49).
All three games will be broadcasted online via Game Central by Stretch Internet, with live video, live audio, a live chat and live stats available for viewers.
Game Central.
Game Notes
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Embry-Riddle's all-time record is 893-383-1
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Embry-Riddle is 54-10 all-time against Webber International
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Randy Stegall is 264-109-1 in his six-plus year coaching career
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Randy Stegall is 195-64 at ERAU
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The Eagles own an 18-game winning steak against WIU
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ERAU is 494-240-1 against teams from the state of Florida
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ERAU is 236-99 in the month of February
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Adam Cellini has reached base safely in 26 straight games
