5/9/2025 | Baseball | Box Score
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic baseball dropped the series opener against USF by a 4-3 final on Friday night. The Bulls (26-21, 13-9) edge one game in front of the Owls (32-17, 12-10) in the American Athletic Conference standings.
THE BEGINNING
Florida Atlantic ace Trey Beard and USF’s Corey Braun went toe-to-toe for the first four innings with just one baserunner between the two of them. Beard was perfect through five innings before a leadoff single eventually came around to score the game’s first run in the sixth. USF added another run in the seventh inning to lead 2-0.
TURNING POINT
The Owls had one hit in the first six innings before singles by Brando Leroux and Nick Romano in the seventh ignited the offense. With two outs, Jake Millan launched his seventh home run of the season to put the Owls in front 3-2.
Beard retired the first two batters in the eighth before a base hit signaled the end of the sophomore’s night. MJ Bollinger was then tagged for back-to-back doubles, restoring a 4-3 lead for the Bulls.
THE FINISH
The Owls stranded a runner on base in the eighth and ninth to see their comeback attempt fall a run short.
THE BATS
- USF out-hit the Owls 8-5
- Marshall Lipsey recorded the Owls’ first hit – an infield single – in the fourth inning.
THE ARMS
- Beard finished with three runs allowed on six hits. He struck out eight and did not issue a walk in 7.2 innings.
- Bollinger took the loss to fall 2-3. It was the first time the sophomore had allowed a run in his last 10 appearances.
QUOTABLE
Head coach John McCormack
“Just didn’t work out with Bollinger tonight. It happens with closers. They have good days; they have bad days. I’ll give him the ball again next time we’re in the same situation. Tough loss. We’ll have to be ready for another battle tomorrow.”
WHAT’S NEXT
The Owls and the Bulls will meet for game two at 4 p.m. Saturday on ESPN+.
