BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University baseball team won the series opener over Florida International on Friday by a final of 7-1. Hunter Cooley tossed his second complete game in his last three starts.
THE BEGINNING
The Owls fell behind on a solo home run in the top of the first, but the deficit didn’t last long. In the bottom of the third, Jalen DeBose doubled to lead off the inning. Three batters later, Nolan Schanuel found a hole up the middle for his 40th RBI of the season.
THE TURNING POINT
The Owls needed just one hit in the fifth inning to grab their first lead of the night. A one-out single by Armando Albert followed by four walks accounted for two runs.
Gabriel Rincones, Jr. drove in DeBose with a hit in the sixth to make it 4-1. FAU added two more in the seventh – one on a solo homer by Dylan Goldstein and another when DeBose beat out a ground ball for an infield single. The scoring was completed with a line drive RBI double to center by Jackson Ross in the eighth.
THE FINISH
After allowing the home run in the first, Cooley was dominant the rest of the way. He allowed just four hits in the ensuing 8.2 innings. The senior finished off his second complete game of the season with a 1-2-3 ninth.
QUOTABLE
“Hunter really bounced back and did an amazing job tonight. Gave up the solo shot in the first but settled down. He knows how to compete, and he knows how to adjust. Tonight, the guys played good defense behind him, and we were able to get a few hits, draw a few walks, and make some stuff happen offensively.”
THE ARMS
- Cooley struck out five and walked just one. He needed 115 pitches to go the distance for the second time in three starts
THE BATS
- Goldstein homered for the third straight game, tying him with Rincones, Jr. for the team lead (13)
- The sophomore also walked three times and scored two runs
- DeBose was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base
- Schanuel finished 2-for-5 for his 18th multi-hit game of the season
- Ross had two RBI bringing his season total to 24
WHAT’S NEXT
The Owls and Panthers go again in game two at 4 pm on Saturday. The series finale is scheduled for noon on Sunday.
TICKETS
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