| 4/16/2024 | Baseball | Box Score MIAMI, Fla. – Florida Atlantic baseball was held scoreless on just four hits in a 1-0 defeat to FIU on Tuesday night. It was the first time the Owls have been shutout this season. The south Florida neighbors split the season series 2-2. THE BEGINNING Florida Atlantic picked up a two-out single from John Schroeder in the first inning but didn’t have another baserunner until Emilio Gonzalez reached in the fifth. Meanwhile Brandon Smith was in control for the Owls on the other side of the mound. The graduate senior cruised through five shutout frames. THE TURNING POINT Smith departed in the sixth and FIU did just enough to score the game’s only run. A leadoff single followed by a hit batter put two on. After a sac bunt and an intentional walk set up the force play, the Panthers got a fly ball to deep center to score the run from third. THE FINISH After Schroeder singled with two outs in the top of the sixth, the Owls would not record another hit. The final 10 batters were retired in order. THE BATS Schroeder had two of the four hits for FAU.Gonzalez and Joey Slattery had the other two.Owl hitters walked just one time in the game and struck out 11 times. THE ARMS Smith struck out three, allowed four hits, and did record a walk in his five innings.Dawson Ball was charged with the loss. He faced two batters in the sixth.Sam Drumheller followed Ball out of the bullpen and limited the damage in the sixth.Nicholas Del Prado pitched a scoreless seventh.Max Martzolf got the first out of the eight but walked two before turning it over to Steven Andrews who escaped the frame unscathed. WHAT’S NEXT The Owls return home to face Tulane in AAC play Friday at 6:30 p.m. THE TICKETS To purchase FAU tickets, call 1-866-FAU-OWLS or click HERE. Stay informed by reading FAUSports.com, or through the baseball’s Twitter and Instagram accounts @FAUBaseball. |
