BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic baseball cruised to a 15-2, seven-inning win over Bradley on Wednesday afternoon. The Owls enter the start of conference play on a five-game winning streak.
THE BEGINNING
Bradley took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, but it was short-lived. In the ensuing half inning, Dylan Goldstein led off with a solo home run, his second of the year. The Owls needed just one more hit in the frame to take the lead. With the bases loaded, Mitchell Hartigan was hit by a pitch bringing the tying run in. A wild pitch then accounted for the go-ahead run and FAU never looked back.
THE TURNING POINT
A seven-run third inning broke the game open for Florida Atlantic. For the second time in as many innings, Goldstein launched a leadoff solo home run. Two batters later, Jake Millan followed with his second deep ball of the season. Another bases loaded walk with Hartigan at the plate made it 6-2. As the Owls batted around, Jackson Ross and Goldstein lined back-to-back ground-rule doubles for a total of four more runs.
THE FINISH
If that wasn’t enough offense for the day, Ross connected for a grand slam in the fifth inning to complete the scoring. Bradley went 1-2-3 in each of the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings to end the game on the run-rule in 6.5 innings.
THE ARMS
- The Owls used six pitchers, five of whom didn’t allow a run.
- Bradley had just two hits after scoring in the second inning.
- Despite the short-game, FAU pitchers still struck out 12 Bradley hitters – one short of a season-high.
THE BATS
- Ross finished with a career-high six RBIs.
- Goldstein recorded his second career multi-HR game.
- FAU hitters drew a season-high 12 walks.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Owls head to San Antonio to start the Conference USA schedule on Friday against UTSA. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.
TICKETS
To 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.
