BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University baseball team (20-12, 6-5 C-USA) fell in an 8-6 slugfest against UAB (21-9, 7-4 C-USA) on Saturday afternoon. The Owls will try to salvage the series in the finale on Sunday afternoon.
QUOTABLEHead Coach John McCormack
“We didn’t execute. Too many leadoff walks, not being able to make pitches when we had to. And we had opportunities to score runs again, just like last night. We’ve got to be able to drive guys in. We didn’t take care of what we needed to take care of.”
THE BEGINNINGThe Owls grabbed an early 1-0 lead on an RBI single by Dylan Goldstein in the bottom of the first. From there, the two evenly matched sides went back and forth for six innings. FAU came back from 3-1 and 6-3 deficits. Gabriel Rincones, Jr. hit a solo home run in the third and a two-run shot in the fifth. Shane Magrann came up with an RBI single in the sixth to tie the game.
THE TURNING POINTUAB took the lead for good in the seventh despite not registering a hit. Three walks and a sacrifice fly were enough to make it 7-6 Blazers. They added another in the eighth on an RBI double.
THE FINISHFAU had its two, three, and four hitters due up in the ninth but closer Collin Taylor retired the side in order to earn the save.
THE ARMS
- Tibur Rivero started and gave way to Marc DeGusipe after three innings
- DeGusipe gave up a run on two hits in two frames
- Evan Waterbor was charged with the loss. He didn’t concede a hit but walked two before leaving with one out in the seventh
- Robert Wegielnik completed the final 2.2 with four hits and one run against
THE BATS
- Rincones, Jr. recorded his third multi-homer game of the season
- Steven Loden had two hits, including an RBI single in the third inning
- Armando Albert scored two runs. Albert has reached base in 29 straight games
WHAT’S NEXTFirst pitch for the series finale is scheduled for noon on Sunday.
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