BASE | Owls Put Up 25 to Clinch Series Win over UConn

2/22/2025 | Baseball | Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic baseball blitzed UConn early on Saturday and held off a late comeback attempt to win 25-17 and remain unbeaten at 6-0.

THE BEGINNING

After three innings on Saturday, it looked like the Owls might cruise to their sixth straight win. They batted around in both the first and second. Ayden Garcia, Nick Romano, John Martinez, and Marshall Lipsey all homered, and Brando Leroux delivered a bases-clearing three-RBI double. It was 17-1 heading into the fifth inning.

THE TURNING POINT

Despite the deficit, UConn showed no quit. They began to chip away in the top of the fifth. A grand slam was part of a seven-run frame that knocked FAU starter Tyler Murphy out of the game and one out shy of being eligible for the win.

After Lipsey drove in two more with a single in the bottom of the fifth, the Huskies put together another big frame in the sixth-the first eight batters of the inning all recorded hits, including two home runs. What was once a 16-run Florida Atlantic lead was trimmed down to four at 19-15.

The Owl offense continued to keep UConn at bay, though. They tacked on two runs in the bottom of the sixth and three more in the seventh.

THE FINISH

UConn thought it had another homer in the eighth, but Huskies’ catcher Conner Lane did not touch home plate to complete his home run trot, taking a valuable run off the board.

The Owls added one last run in the bottom of the eighth and survived the ninth without incident to complete the victory.

THE BATS

The Owls out-hit UConn 24-18
Brando Leroux tied the single-game program record with four doubles. He finished with seven RBI.
Jake Duer recorded his second consecutive four-hit game and third of the season.
Lipsey, Martinez, and Romano each homered for the first time in their respective FAU careers.
Lipsey (3-for-7) drove in five, Martinez (3-for-6) drove in four, and Romano (3-for-5) drove in three.
Ayden Garcia doubled and singled in addition to his home run and finished with five RBI.
All nine FAU starters scored at least two runs – seven scored at least three each.

THE ARMS

Murphy cruised through the first four innings before running into a roadblock in the fifth.
He finished with four strikeouts.
Reilly Witmer put out the fire in the fifth inning but did not record an out in the sixth before giving way to Kide Adetuyi.
Adetuyi and Ryan Buckler preceded Max Martzolf, who recorded all three outs in the chaotic sixth.
Martzolf was credited with the win as the most effective reliever.
The senior lefty was the only pitcher out of 13 between the two teams to not allow a run.
Zach Kilby pitched the seventh and eighth innings before giving way to Nick Wimberly for the ninth.