BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic baseball got back on track on Friday night with a 7-3 win over Harvard in the first of a four-game series.
THE BEGINNING
Hunter Cooley needed just 18 pitches to set Harvard down in order in the first two innings. In the bottom of the second, the offense rewarded their starter with a lead. Mitchell Hartigan led off with a double and scored on a triple to the right-center field gap by Christian Adams.
THE TURNING POINT
After a scoreless third, the Owls sent all nine men to the plate in a five-run fourth. Nolan Schanuel walked to start the frame and moved to second on a bloop base hit by Jackson Ross. After Schanuel stole third, Hartigan hit a high chopper that bounced over the head of the first baseman into right field. Caleb Pendleton then dropped down a squeeze bunt to bring another run across. With two on and one out, Jake Millan lined a double to the opposite field to make it 5-0. The inning was capped off with an RBI groundout by Armando Albert.
THE FINISH
Millan led off with solo home run in the sixth to put the Owls up 7-1. Cooley continued his roll through eight before giving way to C.J. Williams to close the door in the ninth.
THE ARMS
- The win improved Cooley’s record to 2-2. He struck out eight and is yet to allow a walk in 26.1 innings so far this season.
THE BATS
- Millan finished 2-for-4 with three RBI.
- Hartigan posted a 3-for-4 line with two runs scored.
WHAT’S NEXT
Game two between the Owls and the Crimson is set for 4 p.m. on 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.
