SERIES THREAD: Old Dominion @ FAU, April 9-11, 2021
What: Old Dominion (21-5) vs Florida Atlantic (14-12)
When: Fri., Apr. 9th at 5:00 PM
Sat., Apr. 10th at 2:00 PM (DH)
Sun., Apr. 11th at 12:00 PM
Where: FAU Baseball Stadium
Video: CUSA.tv *Subscription Required
Live Stats: Here
Old Dominion Team Site: Here
Series: FAU owns a 14-6 series lead all-time over ODU, although ODU took two of three in Boca Raton the last time they played in 2019.
Projected Starting Pitchers:
ODU- LHP Tommy Gertner (1-0, 3.72)
FAU- LHP Hunter Cooley (4-2, 4.18)
ODU- RHP Nick Pantos (1-0, 2.27)
FAU- LHP Matt Sparling (2-1, 4.94)
ODU- RHP Hunter Gregory (3-0 1.82)
FAU- RHP Dante Visconti (0-1, 6.50)
ODU- RHP Ryne Moore (3-0, 3.06)
FAU- RHP Javi Rivera (2-0, 7.22)
Notes
Owls
FAU has been one of the most bipolar teams in college baseball to start conference play, getting swept by UNC Charlotte following an impressive sweep over Marshall. With the Owls coming home to the friendly confines of 75-80 degree Boca Raton, as opposed to the mid 40s weather in Charlotte, FAU may have a chance to rebound now that they're in their comfort zone.
One of the biggest storylines from last weekend's series was the Owls' inability to strike batters out. Through the four-game series, FAU pitchers struck out just 16 batters to Charlotte's 33. They've been becoming more reliant on getting lucky with batted balls in play going to their defense and the occasional highlight-reel catch from center fielder Jackson Wenstrom, but that system just hasn't been working. It resulted in FAU getting outhit 44-34, and when you include sacrifice flies, it's something that has to be worked on going into this next series.
One player who did rise up to the occasion last weekend was third baseman B.J. Murray, who hit a home run in all four games of the series. He finished the series with a 1.267 slugging percentage, a .467 batting average, and eight RBIs. Head Coach John McCormack recently moved him from the second spot in the lineup to the cleanup spot, and it's been paying off in spades. He has been coming through with crucial hits when the Owls needed them and has a knack for showing up in the big moments. He should continue to be a player to watch out for in this upcoming series.
Shortstop and leadoff hitter Wilfredo Alvarez has been on a bit of a slump over the last four games, hitting .083 and recording just one single in 12 at-bats over the four-game series. It should be interesting to see if FAU tries someone else out at the leadoff spot for the first time this season or if Alvarez is able to get hot again and be the reliable leadoff man he's been this season.
Freshman catcher Caleb Pendleton left Sunday's game with a hamstring injury, so it is somewhat likely that we see more of Nicholas Toney and possibly Shane Magrann at the catcher position during this series.
Monarchs
The Old Dominion Monarchs have been absolutely dominant to start the conference season, starting with a 7-1 record in C-USA play. Their only loss came to FlU, where they lost a 15-12 thriller where starting pitcher Tommy Gertner gave up four earned runs in just two innings. Gertner had similar struggles with going deep into the game in his last start, where he only pitched 3.1 innings, allowing five hits and two walks, albeit, ODU winning that game 12-1. If the Owls are able to get the bats going early, they can possibly get Gertner out of the game early and wear out their bullpen on Friday.
Even if they're able to get that bullpen worn out on Friday, the Moncarchs' offense is still going to make things every bit more hard for FAU to keep up with. Over their four-game series against Marshall last weekend, ODU outscored the Thundering Herd 43-15, averaging just over 10 runs per game. With FAU's pitching in a bit of a cold streak, the Monarchs have a matchup advantage that they can exploit if they can stay as hot as they were against Marshall.
ODU's crown jewel is junior outfielder Andy Garriola who leads the nation in RBIs with 40. (FAU's Nolan Schanuel is one RBI behind him, by the way.) He has a batting average of .318 and eight home runs to go along with it. He's one home run behind freshman infielder Carter Trice for the team lead.
Time to dust off and go again! #FAU ⚾️'s Batting Order for Game 1⃣ vs. ODU ⬇️
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) April 9, 2021
SP: Hunter Cooley
SS Wilfredo Alvarez
LF Mitchell Hartigan
1B @NSchanuel
3B BJ Murray
RF Bobby Morgensen
C Nick Toney
DH Jared DeSantolo
2B Sam Low
CF Jackson Wenstrom#GoOwls 👌
📸: @thatguycolbs pic.twitter.com/3cn7D3wcVD
1️⃣ pitch, 1️⃣ out! 😌
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) April 9, 2021
Hunter Cooley makes quick work of ODU’s first batter with a pop out to @jackowenny! Play Ball! 👌#ODU 0 - #FAU 0 | T1 | @LealLaw pic.twitter.com/x55UVpdIu3
PITCHERS DUEL! 👀🔥
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) April 9, 2021
Both starting pitchers pitch clean 1-2-3 innings in the first. Will it stay that way? 🤔#ODU 0 - FAU 0 | E1 | @LealLaw pic.twitter.com/kx8VACMWC2
ODU pulls ahead with a 2-run second inning. 😕
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) April 9, 2021
Owls fall behind early, but Sam Low gets the Owls’ first hit of the ball game! 👌#ODU 2 - #FAU 0 | E3 pic.twitter.com/hQ0J1KJqe3
WE’RE WALKIN’ HERE! 🗽🚶♂️
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) April 9, 2021
Owls tie up the game with bases-loaded walks in back-to-back innings! 👌#ODU 2 - #FAU 2 | E5 | @LealLaw pic.twitter.com/CgyCJ55mSc
Hunter Cooley is CRUISING through this game 🏁🚗
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) April 9, 2021
Through 7 innings, Cooley has given up 1 earned run and 8 hits, striking out five batters!#ODU 2 - #FAU 2 | E7 | @LealLaw pic.twitter.com/SHdXABZx8P
Go Owls
The Rundown
- The Owls struggled immensely with the bases loaded, going 0-4 with two walks and four strikeouts with the bases loaded. They left the bases loaded in two straight innings.
- FAU left 13 men on base and only had five hits. They gave up 13 hits to the Monarchs.
- Owls batters struck out a whopping 14 times compared to Old Dominion's six strikeouts.
- Hunter Cooley looked impressive tonight, going 7.1 innings and only allowing 3 earned runs. Two of those home runs came off of a three-run home run that Mike Entenza gave up after Cooley left the game.
"It's not the fact that we made outs, it's the fact we struck out, and we didn't get anything out of it. If you get a deep fly ball and the guys move up and maybe you roll a ground ball and you make two outs, you get two runs. Gotta get the guys to swing the bat more, gotta get them to be more aggressive." - Head Coach John McCormack
The Owls will be back in action tomorrow for some doubleheader action against the Old Dominion Monarchs. The game will be broadcast on C-USA TV and it will start at 2:00 p.m.
UPDATED SCHEDULE: HERE
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