BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University baseball team earned a 6-4 win over Florida Gulf Coast on Tuesday night at home.
THE BEGINNING
The Owls stormed out to a 5-0 lead after one inning. They racked up five hits and two walks and chased FGCU starter Daniel Batcher after just one out in the opening frame. Caleb Pendleton’s two-RBI single to centerfield prompted the early call to bullpen.
Florida Gulf Coast got on the board with a run in the top of the second. In the bottom of the frame, Dylan Goldstein lined a two-out, opposite field home run over the left field fence.
THE TURNING POINT
Marc DeGusipe — on in relief of Owls’ starter Bryan Boully — got the first out of the fifth inning via a strikeout. DeGusipe then walked the next hitter before giving way to Hayden Compton. Compton was relieved by Sam Drumheller after two batters, still with just one out in the inning. Drumheller allowed a walk and two singles before head coach John McCormack made his third trip to mound in the inning.
Freshman Max Martzolf entered with the bases loaded and the lead trimmed to 6-4. Martzolf successfully put out the fire and then some. A strikeout and a fly out ended the threat and preserved the lead.
THE FINISH
Martzolf proceeded to strike out the side in the sixth. He K’d two in the seventh and two in the eighth and then capped off a brilliant performance by striking out the side again in the ninth. He didn’t allow a hit and finished with 11 strikeouts in just 4.2 innings.
QUOTABLE
“Max was great. He bailed us out. Our other relievers didn’t have it tonight and Max jumped in there and just threw strike after strike after strike. His best outing since he’s been here.”
THE ARMS
- Martzolf’s 11 strikeouts were the most by an Owls pitcher this season, surpassing Hunter Cooley’s 10 in eight innings against UTSA on March 25
- Bryan Boully made the start and allowed a hit and an unearned run in two innings of work
- DeGusipe struck out three and didn’t allow a hit in 2.1 though he did walk three batters
- Martzolf needed 70 pitches to finish the last 4+ frames. His only blemish was a hit batter in the sixth inning. He was credited with his second win of the season.
THE BATS
- Pendleton finished 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI
- Goldstein homered for the second straight game. He’s now tied with Nolan Schanuel for second on the team
- The Owls out-hit the Eagles 11-3
WHAT’S NEXT
The Owls will welcome FIU to Boca Raton for a three-game series beginning Friday at 6:30 pm.
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.
