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Opening Weekend Series Thread: Monmouth vs FAU Feb 17-19, 2017

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What:      Monmouth (0-0) at Florida Atlantic (0-0)

When:     Fri, Feb 17th at 6:30 PM
                Sat, Feb 18th at 4:00 PM
                Sun, Feb 19th at 12:00 PM


Where:    FAU Baseball Stadium

Stream:   CUSA.tv *FEE

Stats:       Here


Series:

The Owls lead 33-5, including 23 of the last 24 meetings.


Projected Starting Pitchers

Sat:       MON - RHP Ricky Dennis (9-5, 3.78 ERA 2016)
             FAU - RHP Alex House (2-1, 3.13 ERA 2016)

Sat:       MON - RHP Jordan McCrum (2-1, 3.22 ERA 2016)
             FAU - LHP Jake Miednik (17-1, 3.62 ERA 2016)

Sun:      MON - RHP Joe Molettiere  (1-2, 4.34 ERA 2016)
             FAU - LHP Nick Swanl (3-0, 3.09 ERA 2016)


Game Notes

The Florida Atlantic University baseball team's 2017 campaign gets underway this Friday night, continuing through Sunday, when they host familiar northeastern foe Monmouth in a three-game set at FAU Baseball Stadium.

Friday night's 6:30 first pitch, which will come from Owls' converted reliever Alex House, will allow the home team to break from preseason and face some outside competition. House, a 6-3 junior righthander, was 2-1 with a 3.13 ERA last season in 23 appearances, all in relief.

Slated to follow him in the rotation for the 4 p.m. Saturday tilt will be junior college transfer Jake Miednik, making his FAU debut. He was named NJCAA Division I Pitcher of the Year by Spalding after going 13-1 for Walters State Community College. The 5-10 lefthander had a 3.62 ERA with 127 strikeouts in 79.2 innings pitched.

In the Sunday finale, beginning at noon, another arm out of the bullpen (and like Miednik, another southpaw) will toe the rubber in 5-11 sophomore Nick Swan. A Conference USA All-Freshman honoree last year, he had two starts among his 19 games pitched, going 3-0 with a 3.09 ERA. In each of his starts, both Owl wins, he gave up just one earned run in four innings pitched, and allowed a total of only seven hits.

The infield returns three of four starters, though the fourth was a starter, just at another position. At designated hitter too, the Owls bring back a twoway player with success in both roles.

As opposed to the experience returning to the infield, the Owls are set to have an entirely new crop of players roaming the outfield, as all five will be making their FAU debut the first time they step onto the field.

Two slots are spoken for, according to McCormack, with leftfield expected to be a battle right up until Opening Day. Rightfielder Jared Shouppe will make his first appearance with the squad this weekend after using last year to redshirt due to injury. He was set to be a key player on last year’s squad after transferring from Santa Fe College. Centerfield will also be manned by a newcomer, in local first-year Eric Rivera.

Behind the plate, McCormack is in an enviable situation, with three talented options, none of which have yet taken the lead in the race to call the position his own.

Entering its fourth year in the MAAC, the Monmouth baseball program was chosen to finish third in the MAAC Preseason Poll of the league’s coaches.  All four of Monmouth’s First Team All-Conference players from last season return this year, and were all selected on the preseason team, including the 2016 MAAC Pitcher of the Year Ricky Dennis .

Dennis picked up Pitcher of the Year accolades after going 9-5 with a 3.78 ERA, including four complete games and two shutouts. He struck out 58 in 85.2 innings, and allowed just 36 earned runs and 22 walks in that time. Opponents hit just .278 against him.

Dan Shea led the Hawks in home runs and RBI’s last year, finishing with eight homers and 53 runs batted in, a number that left him second in the league and one shy of first.

Grant Lamberton finished second in the MAAC in hits with 75, including eight doubles and 22 runs driven in. He hit .341 as a junior to earn unanimous All-MAAC First Team honors, and got on base at a .445 clip.

Shaine Hughes was picked at first base after hitting .385 to lead the MAAC with a team-best 62 hits before an injury sidelined him for the final 17 games. He still led the team in doubles with 15 and posted a slugging percentage of .522 with an on base percentage of .457.
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Although way too early for the complete picture, any doubts about the offense should be eased. FAU jumps out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first off the Hawk ace Ricky Dennis, and tack on another four spot three frames later.

Owls up 7-2 through four complete.
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The Owls offense continues to pour it on adding 2, 3, and 4 runs in the 5th, 6th, and 7th innings respectively.

FAU up big at 16-2 through seven complete.
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Everyone hitting the ball hard. From Tyler Frank to Eric Rivera. The production from the bottom of the order is nice to see. FAU baseball is back at it. Good teams win the games they a expected to. That is why FAU baseball is the best sport on campus. And now with cold beer! Too early to say, but they look solid.
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Impressive offensive showing for Florida Atlantic in the opener…



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

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Local Owl said

Everyone hitting the ball hard. From Tyler Frank to Eric Rivera. The production from the bottom of the order is nice to see. FAU baseball is back at it. Good teams win the games they a expected to. That is why FAU baseball is the best sport on campus. And now with cold beer! Too early to say, but they look solid.
Posted On: Feb 17th 2017, 9:22 PM #367167
wait…they have beer now???
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teambeer said

Local Owl said

Everyone hitting the ball hard. From Tyler Frank to Eric Rivera. The production from the bottom of the order is nice to see. FAU baseball is back at it. Good teams win the games they a expected to. That is why FAU baseball is the best sport on campus. And now with cold beer! Too early to say, but they look solid.
Posted On: Feb 17th 2017, 9:22 PM #367167
wait…they have beer now???
Posted On: Feb 17th 2017, 10:00 PM #367169

They have beer…they don't have you!

TeamBeer

 :Big-Grin:
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Coach Mac on the Win…

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Abraham will miss today, and likely tomorrow as well..

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