BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic baseball got off to a fast start on Friday night in route to a 9-5 series opening victory over Louisiana Tech. With five games remaining in the C-USA schedule, the Owls are in fourth place, a half game behind Charlotte for third.
THE BEGINNING
The Owls took a 2-1 lead in the second inning when Spencer Rich led off with a double and John Schroeder roped a triple to the gap in right center. Christian Adams brough Schroeder in with a sacrifice fly.
THE TURNING POINT
The Owls broke the game open in the next inning. Armando Albert led off with a single and Jackson Ross drew a walk. That brought Nolan Schanuel to the plate with no outs. In a matchup of the Preseason C-USA Player of the Year (Schanuel) and the Preseason C-USA Pitcher of the Year (LA Tech’s Jonathan Fincher), it was the former who won the battle. Schanuel connected on an 0-1 pitch for his 18th home run of the season to make it a 5-1 game. He would deliver again in the fourth with a two-RBI single.
THE FINISH
LA Tech chipped away with three runs in the top of the sixth but a Dylan Goldstein two-run double in the bottom of the frame put FAU back up 9-4. The Bulldogs had two on in the ninth before Robert Wegielnik came on to record the final two outs.
THE ARMS
- C.J. Williams made his fifth start of the season and lasted six innings – a new season-high.
- Williams allowed one earned run on six hits with three strikeouts.
- Hunter Cooley pitched the seventh and recorded the first out of the eighth.
- Sam Drumheller worked out of a jam in the eighth, stranding two runners on. Drumheller went back out for the ninth and got the first out.
- Wegielnik picked up his fifth save.
THE BATS
- Schanuel finished with five RBIs, tying a career high. He reached base four times, extending his consecutive games streak to 45.
- The home run was the 45th of his career. The program record of 47 has stood since 1984.
- Albert, Schroeder, and Adams all finished with two hits apiece.
- Adams also scored two runs.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Owls and Bulldogs meet for game two at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Prior to first pitch, the Owls will recognize this year’s 11 seniors.
TICKETS
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