Two from FGCU selected in Major League Baseball draft

Two Florida Gulf Coast University players were selected in Major League Baseball's first-year player draft held on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Right-hander Justin Stiver, whose 76 strikeouts in 2006 were the third most in Eagles history, was picked in the 17th round by the Houston Astros on Tuesday. Third baseman Jason Louwsma, who led the Eagles with 74 RBI this season, was drafted in the 29th round by the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday.

Stiver, the first Eagle ever drafted by a Major League team, was 6-5 with a 3.81 ERA in 78 innings this season, his first with FGCU after transferring from Florida.

Stiver was the starter in FGCU's first-ever NCAA Regional tournament win, a 5-3 triumph against Lynn on May 18. The Englewood native allowed three runs in three innings in his final appearance.

Stiver could see familiar faces in the Astro organization. University of Tampa ace Sergio Perez was selected by the Astros in the second round. On March 31, Stiver and Perez hooked up in a dual at FGCU. Stiver allowed three earned runs and struck out five in seven innings while Perez gave up one run and fanned 12 in six innings. Tampa won, 4-1.

Outfielder Orlando Rosales, another member of the Division II champion Spartans, went 4-for-4 with four runs scored in Tampa's 10-7 loss at FGCU on April 1. He was picked by Houston in the 19th round.

Louwsma started all 113 games in his two-year career at FGCU, finishing with a school-high 47 doubles, 24 home runs and 135 RBI. His .374 batting average led the team in 2005. This season Louwsma batted .361, second behind leader Ian Manson.

Louwsma's final home run as an Eagle came in a 10-7 win against Catawba at the NCAA South Regional.

The Sanford native transferred to FGCU from Manatee Community College.

• Eagle freshman center fielder Josh Upchurch of Cape Coral tied the school record for most stolen bases in a season with 15, matching Chris Brown's total in 2003. Upchurch's 62 runs scored fell one shy of Brown's school record set in 2004.

• Chris Cahill, who notched the first save in FGCU baseball history, finished 1-1 for Louisiana State this season. Cahill's lone defeat came in the Tigers last game of the season when he lasted just two-thirds of the first inning before being removed in an 8-3 loss against Alabama in the SEC Tournament.

In seven appearances this season, Cahill struck out 12 and walked 14 in 14 innings. On April 26, Cahill held New Orleans to one hit in 5.1 innings and struck out five in a 7-0 win.

The Orlando native transferred to LSU following the 2004 season.

In two years with the Eagles, Cahill was 8-4.

On Feb. 1,2003, Cahill garnered a save in FGCU's first-ever win in its debut by retiring the side in order in a 12-0 rout against Savannah College of Art & Design.