BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic baseball will go for a series sweep on Sunday after a 6-2 victory over Middle Tennessee on Saturday afternoon.
THE BEGINNING
The Owls fell behind in the second inning after a defensive miscue and Middle Tennessee made it 2-0 in the third after another error. Starting pitcher Jacob Josey settled in though and retired the Blue Raiders in order in the fourth and fifth.
FAU tied the game in the fourth. With two outs, Nolan Schanuel was hit by a pitch. Jackson Ross singled, and Dylan Goldstein lined a double to the left centerfield gap to score two.
THE TURNING POINT
Josey departed in a tie game after six and the offense made sure he had a chance at a decision. With one out in the frame, a walk to Hartigan and a single by Schanuel set it up for Ross to do damage. The Owls’ third baseman ripped a double down the LF line to bring in Schanuel and give his side a 3-2 lead.
The Owls got some insurance in the eighth. Goldstein led off with a single and Jake Millan drove him in with an opposite field double to left. Two batters later, Millan and Jalen DeBose switched places when the latter laced a double of his own to the RF gap. After DeBose stole third, Hartigan completed the scoring with an RBI single.
THE FINISH
C.J. Williams pitched the final three innings in relief of Josey to earn the save.
THE ARMS
- Josey struck out three and walked two to earn his third win of the season.
- Williams picked up his second save of the season with three shutout innings.
THE BATS
- Ross and Goldstein had two hits apiece from the four and five spots in the FAU order.
- Schanuel singled, walked, and was hit by a pitch to extend his reached-base streak to 20 games.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Owls will have a chance to get back to.500 in C-USA on Sunday with a noon first pitch in the series finale.
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.
