SERIES CAPSULE: FAU vs UAB - April 8th - 10th, 2022
What: UAB (19-9, 5-4 C-USA) vs. FAU (20-9, 6-3 C-USA)
When: Fri, Apr 8th @ 6:30 PM
Sat, Apr 9th @ 4:00 PM
Sun, Apr 10th @ 12:00 PM
Where: FAU Baseball Stadium
Video: C-USA TV
Live Stats:Here
Blazer Team Site: Here
Series: The Owls own a 14-10 margin overall and split 2021's quartet in Birmingham.
Projected Starting Pitchers:
UAB - RHP Jackson Reynolds (1-2, 2.66 ERA)
FAU - LHP Hunter Cooley (4-1, 4.50 ERA)
UAB - RHP Tyler O'Clair (1-1, 5.97 ERA)
FAU - RHP Tibur Rivero (3-0, 5.97 ERA)
UAB - RHP Brooks Walton (4-1, 3.96 ERA)
FAU - LHP Tyler Burnham (1-0, 4.08 ERA)
Owl Notables
Florida Atlantic paid UCF back at home on Tuesday behind an emotional eight inning comeback led by a crafty defensive double play at the hot corner from Armando Albert, and a two run shot to right from offensive leader Nolan Schanuel.
Schanuel was intentionally walked previously by the Knights, but they were forced to face him when Gabe Rincones hopped aboard via a walk. After a third run was added for good measure, the Owls walked away with a 5-3 victory over another P5 opponent.
Pitching is becoming more consistent for the Owls as they head into their fourth C-USA series, although some improvement is desired on Saturday's and Sunday's from the front end. Robert Wegielnik is emerging as a solid relief option, but another nice surprise over the last two weekends has been the strong return of Jacob Josey (photo right above) in the Sunday mid-relief role behind Tyler Burnham.
In his last two appearances versus both Rice and Central Florida, Wegielnik has thrown a combined four innings with zero hits, zero runs, one freebie, and six strikeouts.
Josey was lights out against Rice on Sunday tossing five complete for the win, with only two hits allowed alongside a walk and eight strikeouts. In his prior weekend appearance versus UTSA, he went six frames with one run allowed on three hits coupled with three walks and three set downs.
The key to this series will once again be getting to the opposing starters early and forcing them off the mound. Like the last two week's opponents in UTSA and Rice, the Blazers become more vulnerable when forced to tap the pen earlier than desired. FAU's second series sweep is again entirely possible with a win on Friday night.
The Owls hit just three long balls against Rice last weekend, but connected for three alone on Tuesday. With the wind forecast to blow out all weekend from 10-15 MPH, it's fair to say that there will likely be more when the final out occurs on Sunday afternoon.
Blazer Notables
UAB is coming off a 6-4 loss to #25 Auburn on Tuesday night. Outfielder Christian Hall was 3-for-4 with two homers on the night. Hall is currently second in C-USA behind FAU's Nolan Schanuel with a .411 batting average, 39 hits, six home runs and 26 RBI.
As a team the Blazers enter week four of conference play with a .293 mark at the plate while holding the opposition to .256. UAB took 2-of-3 from common opponent Rice, with a 2.5 run differential in the two victories combined.
UAB Friday night starter Jackson Reynolds is 1-2 in league action, but all of his contests have ultimately been decided by a single run either way. Further, the last two combined for just four runs overall (0-1, 2-1).
At 5-3, the Blazers are one of just four C-USA schools with winning records on the road this season, joining the likes of ODU (6-2), Southern Miss (6-4) and LA Tech (7-6).
Play Ball! @FAUBaseball vs @UAB_Baseball G1 from #FAU Baseball Stadium is underway. Tonight's 📸 via @OnuskaMaddie 👌 #GoOwls 🦉⚾️🧢 pic.twitter.com/fT6UqbMMSZ
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) April 8, 2022
End 1st: #FAU 0 #UAB 3
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) April 8, 2022
Not the start we hoped for. BB, 1B ➡️ 3RBI HR. @FAU baseball goes quietly in their turn #GoOwls 🦉⚾️🧢 pic.twitter.com/hQa2xChSV4
End 3rd: #FAU 0 #UAB 3
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) April 8, 2022
Moving along briskly here at @FAUBaseball Stadium but no change in score. Cooley settles, retiring 6-of-7. Goldstein lands 1st hit of the night and Loden takes one DEEP to the wall, but Blazers make a solid catch to deny a 2B RBI. #GoOwls 🦉⚾️🧢 pic.twitter.com/W0Swrblual
GOING-GOING-GONE! 👋
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) April 8, 2022
Goldstein lines a 🚀 to right out of the park to put @FAUBaseball on the board, scoring @NSchanuel!
End 4th: #FAU 2 #UAB 3 #GoOwls 🦉⚾️🧢 pic.twitter.com/CikDpGkZOD
Bot 6th: #FAU 2 #UAB 3
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) April 8, 2022
THIS GUY is now DEALING ♥️♠️♣️♦️
Cooley has retired 12 straight, and @FAUBaseball is looking for the O to bust this one open.
Let's #GoOwls 🦉⚾️🧢 pic.twitter.com/2dopAxMJLG
End 7th: #FAU 2 #UAB
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) April 8, 2022
PERFECT ☀️set @FAUBaseball Stadium. Owls just need 2⃣ Runs to make it a PERFECT night. 🦉⚾️🧢 pic.twitter.com/YbdHZJr3bZ
Top 9th: #FAU 2 #UAB 3
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) April 9, 2022
Blazer starter Jackson Reynolds departs with 1 on and 2 out with 87 tosses. @FAUBaseball places another on the base path, but leave them stranded. @Max_Martzolf now on the hill for Cooley.#GoOwls 🦉⚾️🧢 pic.twitter.com/oOVsvFkFkd
G1 FINAL: #FAU 3 #UAB 4@NSchanuel swats a DINGER to right, but the Owls fall just short in the comeback.@Goldy0808 2RBI HR@NSchanuel HR
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) April 9, 2022
SP Hunter Cooley 8IP, 3H 3R 1BB 9K
NEXT: vs #UAB Sat 4:00P #GoOwls 🦉⚾️🧢 pic.twitter.com/wykWSaxqQQ
UPDATED SCHEDULE: HERE
HAVE to get tomorrow's game. Sweep is NOT an option.
G2 FNAL: #FAU 6 #UAB 8
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) April 9, 2022
Owls battle hard, but drop the series to the Blazers.@GaBeRincones 3RBI, 2⃣ HR 🔥@ShaneMagrann17 RBI
Goldstein RBI
Loden 2-3, RBI
NEXT: vs #UAB Sat 12:00P #GoOwls 🦉⚾️🧢 pic.twitter.com/RVa1USYmFa
UPDATED SCHEDULE: HERE
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