| 4/13/2024 | Baseball | Box Score WICHITA, Kan. – On a blustery day in Southern Kansas, Florida Atlantic baseball and Wichita State traded the lead back-and-forth six times. The Shockers ultimately landed the final blow to win 14-9 and even the series with the Owls. THE BEGINNING Wichita State struck first in the first inning, but Christian Adams responded immediately for the Owls. With the wind blowing hard out to left field, Adams’ pop fly continued to carry towards left center until it eventually landed over the wall. The Shockers led 4-2 with two outs in the top of the third when the Owls went deep again. This time Emilio Gonzalez’s fly ball snuck over the wall, barely eluding the glove of the WSU left fielder for a three-run homer. THE TURNING POINT The Owls led 6-4 before WSU scored one in the fifth and two in the sixth to retake the lead. In the seventh, John Schroeder connected for his third home run of the series – a two-run line drive shot to right field — to put FAU back on top 8-7. WSU tied the game again in bottom of the seventh. With runners on second and third and two outs, Danny Trehey was called for a balk allowing the runner from third to make it 8-8. Florida Atlantic took what turned out to be its final lead when Brando Leroux led off the top of the eighth with a single, stole second, and scored on a base hit by Jalen DeBose to make it 9-8. THE FINISH The Shockers led off the bottom of the eighth with another wind-aided solo homer to make it 9-9. After a fly out, a hit batter, and a single, the turning point of the inning came on a pop up to shallow left field that fell in no-man’s land for a hit. With the bases loaded at that point, a two-run double made it 11-9. A ground out, a sac fly, and a triple would follow to score three more runs. The Owls were retired in order in the top of the ninth. QUOTABLE Head coach John McCormack “Tough day at the field. I thought our guys kept fighting and answering the bell but we couldn’t get any separation. In the end, we came up short. We have to regroup and win the series tomorrow.” THE BATS Schroeder went 2-for-5 with a home run and single to lead the offense. He scored three runs. The junior leads the Owls with seven homers and 32 RBI. Close behind is Gonzalez with four home runs and 29 driven in. THE ARMS On a tough day to be a pitcher, all seven FAU pitchers allowed at least one run each. WHAT’S NEXT The Owls and Shockers will play the series finale at 2 p.m. EST 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. |
