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2017 Conference USA Baseball Tournament Thread

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Despite starting from an unfamiliar position in the Conference USA postseason baseball bracket, Rice University played Wednesday morning pretty much as it had in past years.

Freshman right-hander Matt Canterino allowed four hits and struck out a career-high 11 batters in a personal-best 7 2/3 innings and as Rice topped Florida Atlantic, 5-3 in the opener of The First, A National Banking Association, Conference USA Championship at MGM Park.

“Their pitcher threw great,” FAU coach John McCormack said “He was way better than when we faced him at the end of March, beginning of April. He was fantastic.

“His fastball was 88 (miles per hour) to 91 (mph), sometimes 92, and his 12-6 (o’clock) breaking ball, which Rice is known for, was really good. This time around, his changeup to left-handers was really good.”

Sixth-seeded Rice (28-29) will face at 4 p.m. Thursday the winner of Wednesday’s second game between second-seeded Old Dominion and seventh-seeded FIU.

Third seeded FAU (33-20-1) fell into elimination play, and will face the ODU-FIU loser at 9 a.m. Thursday.

Catcher Dominic DiCaprio, who hit a double and 14th home run of the season, drove in three runs as Rice collected 10 hits, half for extra bases.

“DiCaprio’s just a good hitter,” Rice coach Wayne Graham said. “He can make adjustments. He went one-way for the double, the other way for the home run. Pretty good hitter.”

FAU managed just five hits against Canterino (5-4) and reliever Glenn Otto, who picked up his eighth save after working the final 1 1/3 innings.

But three went for solo home runs, with first baseman Esteban Puerta hitting his 10th in the second inning, shortstop Tyler Frank his 11th in the sixth inning and second baseman Stephen Kerr his fourth in the eighth inning.

But it was not enough to overcome an early Rice lead that was bolstered by single runs in the seventh and eighth innings.

Rice went up 2-0 in the first inning, when Ford Proctor scored in DiCaprio’s groundball and second baseman Tristan Gray launched his fifth homer of the season against FAU starter Kyle Marman (2-1).

After FAU got a run back in the second, DiCaprio followed with a solo shot to left field.

FAU pulled within a run again in the sixth, but Rice answered with a run in seventh on DiCaprio’s two-out double and another in the eighth on Charlie Warren’s two-out single.

Kerr’s home run barely cleared the wall in the left as Canterino tried to close out the eighth. Otto came in and gave up a single, but then struck out David Miranda to end the inning.

FAU made it interesting in the ninth, putting two men on with two outs before Otto got a flyout for the final out.

“It was a big game for us,” Canterino said. “We want to keep playing beyond this tournament, so we know have to win that first one. We were fortunate to play well enough to get a win against a good club.”
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I've said it  before, tournaments are won by pitching staffs that are deep. We won a lot of games this season by out scoring the other team. That won't happen in post season. Rice's pitcher was terrific today. Marman was terrific . We are not out of this. The road is just longer.
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owlcountry40 said

Man we always just dissapoint and underwhelm.
Posted On: May 24th 2017, 1:47 PM #368932

Been a tough run for all FAU sports.  Tough run.

Teambeer is the most knowledgeable FAU sports fan I know, way smarter than me.
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FAU will face FIU tomorrow at 10am in the losers bracket. Going to be tough to win four for the season.

UPDATED SCHEDULE: 2017 FAU Baseball Schedule - FAU Owl's Nest

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Rick said

FAU will face FIU tomorrow at 10am in the losers bracket. Going to be tough to win four for the season. 
Posted On: May 24th 2017, 7:25 PM #368936

Just don't lose to the little kitties!  I just don't want our strongest program to lose to the silly school down south to end the season.

GO OWLS!
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Shaking it up…UTSA in the House.

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Wow ! I just assumed USM would cruise right thru this thing.
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FAU will start Blake Sanderson this morning against FIU. 
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The Owls have two hits, but the Panthers have four, after two complete innings of play.

Unfortunately, two of Florida International's were a double, and a home run.

They are up 2-0 after two complete innings of play.

Blake Sanderson had retired the first five batters faced before giving up the quartet of hits.

FAU 0  FIU 2

Top 3rd

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Alex House replaces Sanderson (2IP, 4H, 2R, 0BB, 1K) and serves up two scoreless innings.

Austin Langham adds a double to FAU's hit tally, but the Owls have yet to find the plate.

FAU 0  FIU 2

Bot 5th
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