BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University baseball team used a big effort from the bullpen and 11 hits from the offense to knock off USF 8-6 on Sunday afternoon. The Owls are 6-1 heading into Tuesday’s first matchup with No. 22 Miami (7-1).
THE BEGINNING
The Owls got off to a fast start with two runs in the first inning. They doubled the lead in the second when Jackson Ross lined a two-out, bases loaded single up the middle.
On the other side, Nicholas Del Prado cruised through the first three innings with six strikeouts before running into some issues in the fourth. Despite a leadoff walk, Del Prado induced a ground ball double play to clear the bases. After another walk, USF strung together three straight hits including a two-run home run. Bryan Boully entered out of the bullpen and was greeted with another two-run homer.
THE TURNING POINT
FAU would respond in the bottom of the fifth, retaking the lead for good. Nolan Schanuel led off with an opposite field double and Ross followed with another clutch hit. The senior third baseman launched his fourth home run of the season into the palm trees in left field. Two batters later, with Christian Adams on base, John Schroeder connected on his second homer of the year to give the Owls an 8-4 lead.
THE FINISH
From that point forward, the Owls’ bullpen took over. Sam Drumheller got the last two outs of the fifth inning. Freshman Tyler Murphy delivered 2.1 scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Brandon Smith and Robert Wegielnik combined for the last two outs of the eighth in relief of Murphy. Finally, after Wegielnik recorded the first out of the ninth, C.J. Williams came in with two runners on and finished the job, forcing a ground out followed by a game-ending strikeout.
THE ARMS
- Four of the six pitchers the Owls used were making their second appearance of the series. Wegielnik, Williams, and Drumheller all contributed to Saturday’s extra-inning win.
- Williams earned the save – the first of his FAU career.
THE BATS
- Ross led the way offensively going 2-for-5 with 3 RBI. Through two weekends, he leads the team with four home runs and is second with 10 RBI.
- Including Ross, five different Owls recorded multi-hit days (Albert, Schanuel, Schroeder, Caleb Pendleton).
- As a team, the Owls have scored 67 runs in the first seven games of the season.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Owls will face their toughest test yet when No. 22 Miami visits Boca Raton on Tuesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
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.
