BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic baseball won a see-saw battle with Harvard 12-11 in 10 innings on Monday night. The Owls completed a four-game sweep of the Crimson to move to 11-6 overall.
THE BEGINNING
The Owls grabbed an immediate lead in the top of the first with an RBI single by Mitchell Hartigan that scored Armando Albert. Two more would come across in the inning on bases loaded walks as Harvard starter Sean Matson struggled to settle in. The Crimson battled back to tie it in the third before Patrick Ward’s sacrifice fly made it a 4-3 game in the bottom of the frame.
THE TURNING POINT
FAU took a commanding 8-3 lead in the fifth when Hartigan tripled with the bases loaded. Again though, Harvard would not go away. The visitors tied the game with five runs on three hits in the seventh. They had their own opportunity with the bases loaded in the top of the eighth, but Robert Wegielnik came in from the bullpen and induced a foul out and a strikeout.
With one out in the ensuing half inning, Nolan Schanuel beat out a ground ball to first by diving headfirst into the bag. He then stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball. Jackson Ross delivered a single to left to put the Owls up 9-8.
Still unwilling to concede the four-game sweep, Harvard scored three times in top of the ninth to lead for the first time.
THE FINISH
Jake Millan was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the ninth and Jalen DeBose beat out a ground ball to the shortstop. Albert was also hit by a pitch before Daulton Frank drew a bases loaded walk. With still just one out, Schanuel was effective in hitting a ground ball to the right side bringing DeBose in to tie it 11-11.
Brandon Smith stranded two Harvard runners in the top of the 10th, giving the Owls’ offense the chance to win it. Dylan Goldstein lined a double to center to spark the rally. After Caleb Pendleton walked, Patrick Ward stepped in with one out. The freshman hit a high chopper that bounced over the head of the third baseman into left field. Goldstein rounded third to score the game-winning run.
THE ARMS
- The Owls used seven pitchers beginning with four innings from Evan Waterbor.
- Braden Ostrander delivered two scoreless innings with two strikeouts.
- Tyler Monzon and C.J. Williams preceded Wegielnik out of the pen.
- Sam Drumhelller got the last two outs of the ninth.
- Smith allowed two hits and struck out one in his lone inning. He improved to 2-0.
THE BATS
- Ward finished 1-for-4 with three RBIs.
- In addition to his 10th inning double, Goldstein walked twice, was hit by a pitch, and scored three runs.
- Hartigan was 2-for-5 with four RBIs.
- Schanuel went 2-for-4 and upped his RBI total to 25.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Owls will face Bradley on Wednesday at 4 p.m. for one final tune-up before C-USA play begins Friday at UTSA.
TICKETS
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