BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University baseball team fell victim to a big fifth inning from Charlotte on Friday night in a 10-3 defeat. The two teams are now tied at 15-10 in the C-USA standings.
THE BEGINNINGFAU’s Hunter Cooley and CLT’s Hale Sims combined to hold the opposing offense hitless through the first two and half innings. Gabriel Rincones, Jr. finally came through for the game’s first hit in the third. A double off the base of the centerfield wall scored Mitchell Hartigan from first base.
The Owls had a chance to add on but stranded the bases loaded. Charlotte responded with a double and a single in the fourth to tie the game.
THE TURNING POINTThe 49ers took control of the game in the fifth. Three base hits and a walk gave CLT a 3-1 lead. With two on and two outs, designated hitter David McCabe went to the opposite field for a three-run homer. They would add one more in the sixth and three in the seventh for a commanding 10-1 advantage.
THE FINISHThe Owls scrapped and clawed for two runs in the ninth with RBI hits coming Rincones, Jr. and Tyler Kelder but it was too little too late.
QUOTABLEHead coach John McCormack
“They got that big blow, three-run homer and we just couldn’t recover. It all happened relatively quick in that fifth inning. Charlotte pitched well, swung the bats well. They did a nice job against us tonight. Credit to them.”
THE ARMS
- Cooley completed six innings with seven runs and seven hits allowed
- Tibur Rivero pitched a scoreless seventh before running into trouble in the eighth
- Sam Drumheller entered with the bases loaded and, after giving up a base hit, went on to strike out the side
- Hayden Compton and Brock Helverson combined for a scoreless ninth
THE BATS
- The Owls had nine hits and drew six walks but left nine on base
- Rincones, Jr. finished 2-for-5 – his fourth straight multi-hit game
WHAT’S NEXTFirst pitch for game two on Saturday is scheduled for 4 pm. The senior day ceremony will begin at 3:30.
TICKETSTo 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.
