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SERIES CAPSULE: Delaware @ FAU - February 25th - 27th, 2022

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Owls Welcome Blue Hens for 2nd Weekend Series of 2022


What:     Delaware (2-1) at FAU (3-2)

When:     Fri, Feb 25th at 6:30 PM
               Sat, Feb 26th at 4:00 PM
               Sun, Feb 27th at 12:00 PM


Where:  FAU Baseball Stadium

Video:  CUSA.tv

Stats:  Here

Delaware Team Site: Here

Series: FAU leads 3-0, after sweeping Delaware 7-2, 2-1, 6-3 in 2018.


Projected Starting Pitchers

Fri:        DEL - RHP Chris Ludman (0-0, 3.86 ERA)
             FAU - RHP Jacob Josey (0-1, 19.29)

Sat:       DEL - LHP Carter Welch (0-1, 63.00 ERA)
             FAU - LHP Hunter Cooley (1-0, 2.70)

Sun:      DEL - RHP Joey Silan (0-0, 4.50 ERA)
             FAU - TBA


Owl Notables

Some coaches schedule cupcakes early on, and others solicit quality teams that may present an opportunity to allow their team to be challenged. This is the case with John McCormack, who brought in a Blue Hen squad that did just that in 2018 during the team's only series meeting.

Fortunately, the Owls got the better of both ends, gaining a sweep, and also learning more about their chemistry and growing some as well.

This year is likely to be the same scenario, as FAU will face a team that doesn't come with storied accolades, but has lived true to their names as the "Fightin' Blue Hens".

"They've always been offensive, and they play hard", said Coach John McCormack. "They beat Notre Dame last Sunday, we've got our hands full."

Florida Atlantic will be looking to rebound from a 9-1 set back against #24 Miami on Wednesday night where the bats were quiet to the tune of just two hits. Nolan Schanuel swatted a homer and Steven Loden registered a single, but that was it against the Canes as the rest of the line-up went hitless and struck out 14 times.

Catcher Caleb Pendleton left the game due to leg pain, and did not return due to precautionary measures. McCormack indicated that he would be evaluated by staff trainers to assess his status and is currently listed as probable for the series.

Despite a rough outing against Minnesota last Friday night to open 2022, McCormack will stick with Jacob Josey as the Owl's Friday night starter. Hunter Cooley also gets the nod in the two-spot with Sunday's hurler to be a decision later on.


Blue Hen Notables

Delaware will be marking their second straight weekend in the Sunshine State after competing in the Stetson Tournament last weekend. The Blue Hens came out of the action with one great game, one good game, and one bad game.

Delaware took the Host hatters to the wire in a 4-3 loss on Friday night before dropping a lopsided title to Manhattan 11-1 on Saturday. They say third time's the charm, and for them it was with a 5-4 defeat of #4 Notre Dame on Sunday afternoon.

Shortstop JJ Freeman batted .455 with a pair of doubles in DeLand, while first baseman Joseph Carter hit .400 with a home run. FAU will face the same trio of Blue Hen starters on the bump and will need good hitting to counter.

Delaware welcomed back 25 players and adds 14 newcomers from last year's squad that finished with a 12-22 record during the Covid-shortened season. They were picked to finish 8th in the 2022 CAA Preseason poll, but will likely finish hire than that prognostication.
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Game One

End 2nd:  FAU 0  DEL 1

The Blue Hens have 2 hits, and land the first run. The Owls have none and have yet to put a runner on base.



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End 3rd:

FAU 0  DEL 3

'Fightin Blue Hens - yep.

They scratch across two more runs on infield hits that are tough to field.
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End 4th:

FAU 1  DEL 5

Josey serves up a lead-off 2B that is followed by a 2 RBI Blue Hen homer, and his day is done:

3.1 IP, 9H, 5R, 1K.

Waterbor takes the mound for the Owls and gets out of a two-on jam, stranding two on the base path.

Rincones connects on a lead-off homer in the bottom turn at the plate for Florida Atlantic to finally put the Owls on the board, but they also leave two on to end the inning.
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End 5th:

FAU 2  DEL 8

Waterbor gets the first out, but runs into trouble after issuing a walk to the next batter as the Blue Hens immediately connect for their 2nd homerun (2RBI) of the night.

He surrenders a single and eventual triple that plates another score for Delaware and his day is also done:

1.2 IP. 3H, 3R, 1K.

Magraan, who is filling in for Pendleton at catcher tonight as a precautionary measure, homers to lead off the Owls' side to make it a six run differential.

McCormack taps RHP Bryce Braxton for the 6th.
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Just a reminder:

Rick said

Owl Notables

Some coaches schedule cupcakes early on, and others solicit quality teams that may present an opportunity to allow their team to be challenged. This is the case with John McCormack, who brought in a Blue Hen squad that did just that in 2018 during the team's only series meeting.

Fortunately, the Owls got the better of both ends, gaining a sweep, and also learning more about their chemistry and growing some as well.

This year is likely to be the same scenario, as FAU will face a team that doesn't come with storied accolades, but has lived true to their names as the "Fightin' Blue Hens".

"They've always been offensive, and they play hard", said Coach John McCormack. "They beat Notre Dame last Sunday, we've got our hands full."
Posted On: Feb 22nd 2022, 9:47 PM #406858

I never saw this team as a "look past". They are solid and will be much better than their 8th place prediction in the CAA.
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End 6th:

FAU 2  DEL 8

Braxton delivers the first relatively clean inning on the mound for the Owls, allowing only one runner via a free pass, but strikes out two.

Ross singles for Florida Atlantic, but is left on and Blue Hen starter Chris Ludman is through six complete with 6 hits, 2 runs, and 2K's.

They are likely ecstatic with his performance so far.

FAU will send 6-4 LHP and Seton Hall Grad Transfer Tyler Burnham out to the mound for the 7th in his first appearance in an Owl uniform.

Burnham was on the opposite side one day shy of a year ago, as he threw 5.1 innings in Boca Raton February 26, 2021 against the Owls in a 6-2 win for FAU.

How about that for full circle?
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End 7th:

FAU 4  DEL 8

Burnham gets the Blue Hens in order.

Tyler Kelder connects for the Owls third homer of the night, also a solo shot, and that finally chases Ludman off the hill.

Ludman exits with a final line of 6.2 IP, 8H, 4R, and 2K  in a 114 pitch outing.

A wild pitch by new Blue Hen hurler Dom Velazquez, allows Albert to score and make it a 4 run affair.

Owls have 8 hits, with 3 of them being long balls.

Freshman RHP Bryan Boully now on the mound for FAU in his first appearance as well.
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End 8th:

FAU 5  DEL 8

Boully serves up a 1-2-3 effort on the bump for the Owls, including 2K's.

Velazquez allows back-to-back 2B (Ross, Loden RBI) to see FAU plate a run and draw within three.

Unfortunately he K's the Florida Atlantic side thereafter.

Do or die time here as we head to the 9th.

RHP Nicholas Del Prado will make his second appearance for the Owls to start it off.

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Bot 9th:

FAU 5  DEL 8

Del Prado K's the Blue Hen side.

Let's GO Owls!

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