| Louisiana Tech (25-25, 13-11 C-USA) at Florida Atlantic (28-21, 12-12 C-USA) | FAU Baseball Stadium | ||
| Series Details | Boca Raton, Fla. | Friday, May 12, 6:30 p.m. | Saturday, May 13, 4 p.m. | Sunday, May 14, 12 p.m. | |
| Game Coverage | Live Stats HERE; Watch Live HERE | |
| Friday, May 12, 6:30 p.m. | FAU — C.J. Williams (RHP) vs. LTU — Jonathan Fincher (LHP) | |
| Saturday, May 13, 4 p.m. | FAU – Tyler Murphy (RHP) vs. LTU — TBA | |
| Sunday, May 14, 12 p.m. | FAU — Nicholas Del Prado (RHP) vs. LTU — TBA | |
| FAU Links | News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | |
| LA Tech Links | News | Roster | Schedule | Stats | |
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic baseball begins its final homestand of 2023 on Friday night when Louisiana Tech comes to town. With six regular season league games remaining as a member of Conference USA, the Owls are locked in a tight battle for a top four finish in the standings.
Currently as 12-12 in C-USA, FAU is one game behind LA Tech, one and a half games behind Charlotte, and tied with Western Kentucky and Middle Tennessee for fifth place. FAU can clinch its place in the postseason tournament with one win this weekend.
There’s also a full schedule of events on tap for fan appreciation weekend at the ballpark…
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
Friday
- Jackson Ross Baseball Card Giveaway (first 50 fans in attendance)
- Paradise Club Tailgate on the third base berm
Saturday
- Senior Day ceremony to celebrate the final home weekend for this year’s 11 seniors. The presentation begins at 3:25 p.m.
- Hunter Cooley Baseball Card Giveaway (first 50 fans in attendance)
Sunday
- Mother’s Day at the Ballpark – all mothers receive free admission
- Nolan Schanuel Baseball Card Giveaway (first 50 fans in attendance).
OWLS IN REVIEW
The Owls are coming off a tough 8-7 defeat at the hands of Florida Gulf Coast on Tuesday night after taking two of three from Charlotte last weekend.
Inside the friendly confines of the FAU Baseball Stadium, the Owls have been tough to beat this season. With a 22-8 record entering the weekend, the Owls have a chance to reach 25 home wins for the first time since 2017.
WHO’S HOT
Robert Wegielnik is the reigning Conference USA Pitcher of the Week after two clutch performances last weekend against Charlotte. Wegielnik enters this weekend with a 1.89 ERA and string of 23 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run (12 appearances).
Dylan Goldstein homered on Tuesday night and has six RBIs in the last three games. He nearly hit for the cycle last Saturday against Charlotte, falling just a double shy.
Spencer Rich is 11-for-33 in eight games since returning from a two-month injury absence.
Friday night starter C.J. Williams has tied his season-high in strikeouts (7) in back-to-back outings. Williams has allowed just two earned runs in his last 19 innings.
Nolan Schanuel has reached base in 44 straight games, a streak that began back on February 25. Schanuel is leading Conference USA in seven key offensive categories and ranks top three in batting average (third), on base percentage (first), and slugging percentage (second).
THE OPPONENT
LA Tech was picked first in the Conference USA preseason poll. The Bulldogs enter the penultimate weekend fourth in the standings, one game ahead of FAU after taking two of three from UAB last weekend at home.
Catcher Jorge Corona is the Bulldogs’ offensive leader with a .292 average, nine home runs, and 30 RBIs. LA Tech does not have any hitters with an average over .300 (by contrast, the Owls have four players over that mark). Philip Matulia will be another name to watch this weekend. The right fielder is hitting .229 but has homered 15 times and driven in 36 runs.
On the mound, Preseason C-USA Pitcher of the Year Jonathan Fincher is expected to make the Friday night start. Fincher is 8-3 this season with a 4.01 ERA. He’s third in C-USA with 74 strikeouts and second in innings pitched (76.1).
OPPONENT HISTORY
The Owls took two of three from the Bulldogs last season in Ruston. FAU and LTU have only met 11 times, with the first matchup coming in 2014. The sides did not meet in the regular season from 2015-2018. This is expected to be the last matchup for the foreseeable future with the Owls moving to the AAC in 2024 and LA Tech remaining in C-USA.
UPCOMING
The Owls close out the 2023 home schedule with one more midweek matchup against FGCU on Tuesday. After that, it’s on to the final regular season series on the road at UAB starting Thursday, the 18th.
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