BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University baseball team will look to stay unbeaten to start 2023 when they meet the USF Bulls for a weekend series. The matchup will be a preview of future American Athletic Conference opponents beginning next spring.
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
Friday: New Year, New Uni Giveaway
Saturday: Bingo at the Ballpark
Sunday: Pediatric Cancer Awareness Day – K Signs
OWLS IN REVIEW
The high-flying FAU offense has been the story of the first four games. The Owls dismantled UCF 13-3 on Tuesday night in Orlando to improve to 4-0. The bats have totaled 50 runs through the first week of the season.
The production has been well-balanced so far, but newcomer Christian Adams has been particularly impressive. The junior transfer has racked up 9 RBI and a .467 average in 15 at-bats. The Owls have had at least one player total five RBI in three of the first four games. On Tuesday, it was Jackson Ross who homered twice, doubled, and scored four runs.
The pitching has also held up its end of the bargain and then some. Led by first-time starter Evan Waterbor, the staff contained UCF to just three runs on five hits on Tuesday. Hunter Cooley will once again make the Friday start this weekend after holding Monmouth to two runs in 6.1 in the season opener. Jacob Josey and Nicholas Del Prado will follow on Saturday and Sunday. With short notice that he would be on the mound for the finale against Monmouth, Del Prado still delivered four shutout frames.
THE OPPONENT
USF is coming off a thrilling 10-9 win over No. 7 Florida on Wednesday. The Bulls trailed 8-3 entering the ninth inning before a furious rally to earn their second victory of the season. USF also defeated No. 13 Maryland in the season opener.
6’5″ outfielder Drew Brutcher is USF’s leading returner on offense. He hit 13 HR and racked up 40 RBI in 2022. Tanner Mink, Nolan Hudi, and Austin Grause will make starts this weekend — all three were used as relievers last season. Mink — Friday’s projected starter — appeared in 21 games in 2022 with a 4.70 ERA.
OPPONENT HISTORY
FAU and USF last met in 2021 when the Bulls took two of three in Tampa. Prior to that, the two sides met in the 2015 Gainesville Regional where the Owls won an elimination game 8-4.
UPCOMING
The Owls will welcome Miami to town for the first of four in the season series on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
OWLS BASEBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Follow the team on Twitter and Instagram @FAUBaseball and “like” FAU Baseball on Facebook.
TICKETS
Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-866-FAU-OWLS or visiting FAU’s baseball tickets website.
