NORFOLK, Va. – The Florida Atlantic University baseball team earned a 5-4 series finale victory over Old Dominion on Sunday afternoon. The Owls are one game ahead of ODU for fourth place in Conference USA.
THE BEGINNING
The Owls drew first blood in the opening frame with a bases loaded RBI single by Dylan Goldstein. With two outs and the bases still loaded, Steven Loden drew a walk to push across one more.
ODU responded against FAU starter Tyler Burnham with two solo home runs in the bottom of the first to tie the game. Another solo shot in the third gave the home side a 3-2 lead.
THE TURNING POINT
The Owls retook the lead for good in the fifth inning. Gabriel Rincones, Jr. and Nolan Schanuel both walked to start the inning. That brought Goldstein to the plate again and the sophomore lined a 3-2 pitch over the right field fence. His 11th home run of the season gave FAU a 5-3 lead.
THE FINISH
After six innings, the Owls entrusted closer Robert Wegielnik with securing the last nine outs. The redshirt sophomore allowed a solo home run in the eighth but otherwise slammed the door in the ninth to preserve a one-run win.
QUOTABLE
“I thought our guys played great. We got thoroughly beaten the last two days. Today we kept them off base, give up four solo home runs. We did leave a lot of guys on base. We left a small village on base. Rob [Wegielnik] pitched really well in relief, and this was Burnham’s best start of the year. I give our guys a lot of credit.”
THE ARMS
- Burnham improved to 4-0 after six innings with five hits and three runs allowed
- He struck out five and walked two on 93 pitches
- Wegielnik matched Burnham’s strikeout total in his three innings. He conceded two hits to pick up his fifth save
THE BATS
- Goldstein finished 3-for-3 with a bunt single in addition to his first inning RBI and three-run homer
- Schanuel and Rincones, Jr. combined for five walks and three runs scored
WHAT’S NEXT
The Owls are back at home on Tuesday against FGCU. FIU comes to town to next weekend for a three-game series.
TICKETS
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