| 4/27/2024 | Baseball | Box Score TAMPA, Fla. – A four-run second inning was too much to overcome on Saturday as USF took the middle game from Florida Atlantic by a final of 8-5. The teams will play the rubber game at 1 p.m. on Sunday. THE BEGINNING Christian Adams launched a two-run homer in the top of the first inning – his second in as many days – to give the Owls (8-9 AAC) an early lead. THE TURNING POINT USF (8-9 AAC) responded with four runs in a long bottom of the second. FAU starter Tyler Murphy could find his control, walking the first three batters of the inning. A bases loaded single tied the game and signaled the end of the day for the Owls’ sophomore. Brandon Smith allowed an RBI single and an RBI groundout and USF departed the frame with a 4-2 lead. The Bulls tacked on two more on four hits in the third. THE FINISH The Owls chipped away as the innings passed by but could never counter with a big inning of their own. In the fifth, with runners at first and second and one out, back-to-back strikeouts ended the threat. Another key strikeout, this one with the bases loaded in the seventh, proved to be the last chance for a comeback. John Schroeder hit a solo home run to lead off the ninth but the rally was quashed before it could really get started. THE BATS A day after seeing his 11-game reached base streak come to an end, Schroeder reached base five times with a single, double, two walks, and a homer. Adams finished with three RBI. He is up to five in the series now. The Owls outhit the Bulls 11-10 but left 10 on base. THE ARMS Murphy dropped to 3-2 on the season. He allowed one hit but walked four of the eight batters he faced. Smith allowed two runs on five hits in two innings. Ben Gilbert contributed a scoreless fourth inning. Nicholas Del Prado and Max Martzolf allowed one run each. Dawson Ball held the Bulls’ bats scoreless for an inning and two-thirds. WHAT’S NEXT The Owls series finale is set for 1 p.m. on Sunday. 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. |
