BOCA RATON, Fla. –Dylan Goldstein’s walk-off grand slam in the bottom of the ninth powered Florida Atlantic baseball to an 8-4 victory over No. 15 Florida Gulf Coast on Tuesday night. It’s the second straight game the Owls have won on a walk-off home run.
THE BEGINNING
Two high-powered offenses traded home runs in the first inning. Alejandro Figueredo tagged Danny Trehey for a solo shot in the top of the first before Nolan Schanuel responded with his 11th of the season in the bottom of the frame to tie it at 1-1.
FGCU went on top 2-1 in the third but again the Owls answered in the fourth. John Schroeder roped a double into the left field corner to make it 2-2. Later in the inning, Mitchell Hartigan drew a bases loaded walk to put FAU ahead for the first time.
THE TURNING POINT
The Eagles went back ahead 4-3 in fifth but the Owls’ bullpen slammed the door after that. Max Martzolf, Bryan Boully, C.J. Williams and Robert Wegielnik combined to hold FGCU scoreless the rest of the way.
THE FINISH
A sacrifice fly by Caleb Pendleton tied the game at four in the seventh and it remained all square until the bottom of the ninth. Hartigan lined a double to the gap to lead off. Walks to Schanuel (intentional) and Jackson Ross loaded the bases with no one out. Dylan Goldstein stepped in and launched a 3-2 pitch over the FAU bullpen in right field for a walk-off grand slam.
THE ARMS
- Trehey completed his first full inning of the season with a total of 27 pitches. After the home run, he worked around a walk with a strikeout.
- Evan Waterbor and Tyler Murphy piggy-backed for the next four innings.
- Martzolf gave up a hit and walk but eluded any damage with a double play ball.
- Boully struck out the side in the seventh.
- Williams needed five pitches to get through the eighth.
- Wegielnik walked the tightrope with two singles and an intentional walk before stranding the bases loaded in the top of the ninth.
THE BATS
- Schanuel reached base successfully for the 25th straight game. He finished 1-for-3 with two runs scored.
- Goldstein walked three times before his game-ending grand slam.
- John Schroeder finished 3-for-4 with an RBI
WHAT’S NEXT
The Owls return to C-USA action with an adjusted Easter weekend series at FIU beginning Thursday and concluding Saturday.
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.
