SERIES THREAD: FAU vs. Marshall - March 26 - 28, 2021
What: Marshall (4-7) vs. Florida Atlantic (10-9)
When: Fri., Mar. 26th at 5:00 PM
Sat., Mar. 27th at 2:00 PM (DH)
Sun., Mar. 28th at 11:30 AM
Where: FAU Baseball Stadium
Video: CUSA.tv *Subscription Required
Live Stats: Here
Marshall Team Site: Here
Series: The Owls own a 11-4 record over the Herd, which includes three straight FAU victories.
Projected Starting Pitchers:
MU - LHP Cody Sharp (0-0, 7.71)
FAU - LHP Hunter Cooley (3-1, 3.63)
MU - TBA
FAU - LHP Matt Sparling (2-1, 4.55)
MU - TBA
FAU - TBA
MU - TBA
FAU - TBA
Notes
Owls
FAU opens a Conference USA play amidst a dip in recent form. The Owls have lost dropped three straight and seven of their last nine.
Last time out, the Owls were upended by No. 18 Miami 14-9 as the Hurricanes scored a combined 12 runs in the opening two innings of play. Before that, FAU took one out of three games against a struggling USF ballclub in the Owls' first visit to Tampa in over a decade.
To make matters worse, starting pitchers Jacob Josey and TJ Stuart are out for the remainder of the season due to injury.
Hunter Cooley will get his second start of the season in Friday's series opener. Cooley has 22.1 innings under this belt following a 7 inning outing in Game One of the USF series. Cooley's 24 strikeouts is second on the team behind Matt Sparling.
Speaking of Sparling, he gets the nod to start Game Two again following six inning performance in a loss to USF last weekend. He punched out seven Bulls in the start, adding his season total to 33.
Saturday's doubleheader will feature a pair of seven innings games in order to accommodate the four-game set.
Thundering Herd
Marshall heads to Paradise following a 7-1 victory over in-state rival West Virginia.The game included a pair of early MU home runs and just two WVU hits. The win over the unranked and 8-8 Mountaineers is considered one of the biggest in program history.
Due to delays in their new stadium construction, the Herd have been playing their home games at the local YMCA.
Before that, MU went to Carbondale, Illinois and were swept in three games by a strong Southern Illinois ballclub.
Utility player Luke Edwards paces Marshall with a .357 average, while catcher Ryan Leitch leads the team with five home runs and nine RBIs.
Pre-game mood for #FAU vs #MU: 😁😁😁
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) March 26, 2021
Starting Lineups ⬇️
SP: Hunter Cooley
1. SS Wilfredo Alvarez
2. 3B @BJMurray14
3. 1B @NSchanuel
4. RF @bmorgensen11
5. C @nicholastoney1
6. LF @mitchhartigan24
7. DH Jared DeSantolo
8. 2B Sam Low
9. CF @jackowenny pic.twitter.com/I4z90OaiFs
Baseball in Paradise is UNDERWAY! 😎🌴
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) March 26, 2021
Hunter Cooley gets us started with a line-out to Sam Low!#MU 0 - #FAU 0 | T1 | @LealLaw pic.twitter.com/VX8Qzc02Mm
A pat on the back (or head) for noted SPEED DEMON Wilfredo Alvarez! 👏
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) March 26, 2021
Alvarez went from first to third after a throwing error on a stolen base, then @NSchanuel brought him home. Keep it up, Owls! 👊#MU 0 - #FAU 1 | E1 | @LealLaw pic.twitter.com/B61sFagQZy
.@BJMurray14 is ON FIRE! 🔥
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) March 26, 2021
He’s 1 for 2 with 3 RBIs on the afternoon! The Owls as a whole have 7️⃣ runs in the past two innings! #GoOwls👌#MU 0 - #FAU 8 | E3 | @LealLaw pic.twitter.com/pyEIWRDLOk
Scenes from @nicholastoney1’s third inning home run. 👀 pic.twitter.com/pjWy7GXduH
— Colby Guy (@thatguycolbs) March 26, 2021
HUNTER COOLEY IS TURNING UP THE HEAT! 🔥
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) March 26, 2021
Through six innings, Cooley has struck out 5️⃣ batters and allowed only three hits. Keep it going! 👌#MU 0 - #FAU 8 | E6 | @LealLaw pic.twitter.com/mEiDGiKEeQ
OWLS WIN! (Mercy Rule) | #FAU 12 - #MU 0
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) March 26, 2021
It only took seven innings for the Owls to secure the win in this one. They DOMINATED!
Hunter Cooley: (WP) 7 IP, 6 SOs, 4 Hs@nicholastoney1: 2-5, 1 RBI, HR@BJMurray14: 2-3, 3 RBI@jackowenny: 3-3, 4 RBI, HR
Game 2⃣: Sat, Mar 27 at 2PM pic.twitter.com/fmEoeuxbxW
The Rundown
- Hunter Cooley was on fire tonight. He pitched all seven innings of the game, striking out six batters and only allowing four hits.
- Jackson Wenstrom was perfect from the plate tonight. He went 3-3 with four RBIs and a home run.
- Nicholas Toney continues to stay hot at the plate. He hit 2-5 with a home run of his own.
- B.J. Murray had a stellar game tonight, hitting 2-3 with 3 RBIs.
"Hunter Cooley gave us exactly what we needed to start the conference, complete game, seven innings really impressive. And then everyone kind of chipped in there. A couple of runs here, a couple of runs there. It was a really good thing." -head coach John McCormack.
The Owls will be back in action for a double-header against Marshall tomorrow at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on C-USA TV.
UPDATED SCHEDULE: HERE
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