2024 SERIES CAPSULE: FAU vs Miami
What: FAU (8-6) vs Miami (9-6, 2-1 ACC)
When: March 12 & April 2 6:30 PM Boca Raton | April 9 & Apr 23 6:00 PM Miami
Where: FAU Baseball Stadium | Mark Light Park
Video: FAU TV | ACCNX
Live Stats: Here
Miami Team Site: Here
Series: UM leads 71-22 all-time and tied FAU 2-2 in 2023 (5-6, 10-5, 6-7, 12-9)
Projected Starting Pitchers:
FAU - LHP Zach Abbey (0-0, 3.38 ERA)
MIA - LHP Ashton Crowther (0-1, 6.23 ERA)
Owl Notables
Blowing out in-state rival FIU by 22 runs this past Sunday should give the Owls much-needed momentum heading into their first matchup against Miami this year.
The Owls dominated FIU with an overwhelming 24-2 victory, tallying runs in seven out of eight innings while amassing 18 hits and six home runs. This marked the second consecutive Sunday where their offense excelled, following a 20-7 triumph over Stonehill the previous week. The pivotal moment came in an 11-run third inning, highlighted by grand slams from Jalen DeBose and John Schroeder. Tyler Murphy delivered an impressive performance, pitching nearly flawlessly for five innings, conceding only one hit and one walk while achieving a career-high eight strikeouts.
Schroeder and Murphy earned recognition on the AAC Weekly Honor Roll on Monday. Schroeder showcased his hitting prowess throughout the series against FIU, notably hitting grand slams on both Saturday and Sunday, accumulating a team-leading 17 RBI for the season.
Murphy boasts a team-best 1.93 ERA (71st in the nation) and ranks second in strikeouts with 17. As part of a formidable starting rotation for the Owls, the sophomore has established himself alongside C.J. Williams and Trey Beard, who have also been integral contributors in the team's success during the initial month of the season.
Carter Brady (pictured below via Rick Henderson) delivered a stellar performance on Sunday, belting two home runs as part of a perfect 4-for-4 outing at the plate. The outfielder has showcased himself to be a hitter capable of making key plays for his team, possessing a .297 batting average with 11 hits for 13 RBI and a team-most four home runs this year.
A big performance from Zach Abbey on the mound will be crucial for FAU, especially against a Miami offense putting up 9.7 runs per game (23rd nationally). Abbey makes his second start this season, the first one taking place against North Florida as he struck out three batters in three innings.
DeBose will be starting at center field this time around, as Spencer Rich is unable to take part due to injury. DeBose has six hits for 8 RBI over his last four games, looking to take advantage of his regained rhythm by facing a Miami squad that he made moments against throughout last year's series.
The Owls stay home as they host Maine for three games starting March 15th at 6:30 PM. The series will be broadcast on FAU TV.
The starters (in non-batting order) for game one should be that of the below:
RF Carter Brady
CF Jalen DeBose
LF David Alvarez
1B Emilio Gonzalez
2B Christian Adams
3B Nick Garagozzo
DH Andrew McKenna
SS Brando Leroux
C John Schroeder
P Zach Abbey
Hurricane Notables
Despite going through a streaky start to their season, the Hurricanes still present themselves as a strong matchup for the Owls.
Over this past weekend, Miami commenced ACC play by clinching victories in two out of three contests against a Virginia squad that was ranked 13th in the country. On Saturday, the Hurricanes orchestrated a comeback from a 12-3 deficit, orchestrating a remarkable display with six runs in the seventh inning and an additional seven in the eighth, securing a 16-12 win. It was their largest comeback victory since May 1992.
With this series win over a nationally-ranked team, the Hurricanes have received votes in USA Today's latest Coaches Poll.
Defensive issues aside, their offense remains potent with the sixth-most home runs in the country with 34 and the 23rd-most scored runs with 146. They are hitting .310 so far, which is the 41st-best average in the nation.
Freshman infielder Daniel Cuvet has emerged as a standout performer for the team, leading the Canes in batting average (.425; 33rd nationally), home runs (8; 11th), and RBI (25; 15th). The Owls' bullpen must figure out ways how to cool off his hot start to the season.
Sophomore Blake Cyr, who was named the ACC Player of the Week, demonstrated his prowess by amassing an impressive record of eight hits in 16 at-bats, along with three home runs and 11 RBI across four games last week. He is another player FAU must not concede runs to.
Redshirt freshman Ashton Crowther is slated to make his inaugural start on Tuesday. The southpaw has made appearances in three games thus far, accumulating a total of 4.1 innings on the mound while conceding three earned runs. His limited playing time on the mound could be something the Owls can exploit.
The Hurricanes return to Coral Gables as they host North Carolina for three games beginning March 15th at 7:00 PM. The series will be broadcast on ACCNX.
Comments
Top 4th: FAU 3, Miami 3
Mid 8th: FAU 6, Miami 4
How bad is the injury bug?
What: FAU (16-9, 4-2 AAC) vs Miami (15-12, 6-6 ACC)
When: April 2nd @ 6:30 PM
Where: FAU Baseball Stadium
Video: FAU TV
Miami Team Site: Here
Series: Hurricanes lead 71-23 all-time against the Owls. FAU has a 1-0 lead this season.
Projected Starting Pitchers:
FAU - RHP Brandon Smith (1-1, 10.22 ERA)
Miami - LHP Ashton Crowther (0-2, 5.71 ERA)
Owl Notables
Almost time for round two against the Hurricanes, where the Owls have a chance to win four straight at home against their in-state opponents.
The Owls secured a series triumph against Memphis over the weekend, boosting their AAC record to 4-2. After a narrow 2-1 loss in the series opener on Thursday, FAU showcased their offensive prowess with back-to-back commanding victories. They equaled a program record with seven home runs in a 13-5 win on Friday and sealed the series with a convincing 14-3 triumph on Saturday.
Emilio Gonzalez's stellar performance earned him a spot on the AAC Weekly Honor Roll. Gonzalez shone in the three-game series against Memphis, batting .462 with two home runs and five RBIs. With 25 RBIs this season, the Cape Coral native leads the Owls' offensive charge. Keep an eye on Gonzalez when he steps up to bat against Miami.
In their previous encounter this season, FAU emerged victorious with a 6-4 scoreline. Gonzalez's three RBIs, John Schroeder's triple, and Dylan LaPointe's home run powered the offense, while Danny Trehey, Steven Andrews, and Braden Ostrander excelled in relief, holding Miami to just one run in the final five innings. Expect the relievers who step on the mound to play a huge role in helping FAU hold off the Hurricanes during key parts of the game.
FAU will rely on Brandon Smith to set the tone on the mound. Smith's ability to rack up strikeouts while keeping hits and runs to a minimum was evident in his stellar outing against Maine on March 16, where he held the opposition scoreless on four hits across three innings. After struggling in his last appearance against Charlotte, he will look to redeem himself against Miami's batters.
After this game, FAU stays home as they host preseason AAC favorites and nationally-ranked East Carolina starting April 5th. The series will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Hurricane Notables
The Hurricanes are not in the greatest form heading into their second of four games against FAU.
Miami comes into Tuesday's matchup having lost four of their last six contests in conference play, including a series defeat at home to a nationally-ranked Clemson side over this past weekend.
Freshman Daniel Cuvet spearheads Miami's offense, leading the Hurricanes with nine home runs and 31 RBIs. Cuvet showcased his power against the Owls in their previous encounter on March 12, hitting a home run. Slowing him down during his at-bats would play a key part in how FAU's pitchers perform throughout the night.
The Owls' bullpen must also do well in limiting Jason Torres' production. He is second in the ACC and 14th in the country with a .440 batting average so far this season. He leads the Hurricanes in hits with 48 and has the second-most home runs with eight.
Redshirt freshman Ashton Crowther is slated to start for Miami on Tuesday. Crowther holds a 0-2 record this season with a 5.71 ERA over 17.1 innings pitched. In his previous outing against the Owls on March 12, Crowther lasted 3.2 innings, allowing five runs on six hits.
The Hurricanes continue playing on the road, traveling to North Carolina next for three games against Duke starting April 5th. The series will be broadcast on ACCNX.
Top 6th: FAU 2, Miami 0
Top 7th: FAU 2, Miami 0
ECU better come to play!
What: FAU (18-11, 5-4 AAC) vs Miami (15-16, 6-9 ACC)
When: April 9th @ 6:00 PM
Where: Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field
Video: ACCNX
Miami Team Site: Here
Series: Hurricanes lead 71-24 all-time against the Owls. FAU has a 2-0 lead this season.
Projected Starting Pitchers:
FAU - RHP Brandon Smith (2-1, 7.27 ERA)
Miami - LHP Ashton Crowther (0-4, 4.94 ERA)
Owl Notables
Despite falling in the series, the Owls displayed resilience against the 12th-ranked East Carolina team, making the contests closely contested throughout the three-game series.
Now, they shift their focus to the beginning of a challenging five-game road trip, starting with a pivotal clash against Miami. Seeking their first victory at Coral Gables and aiming for their first series triumph against the Hurricanes since 2018, FAU is poised for a competitive matchup.
Brandon Smith, who delivered an impressive performance in his third career start against Miami last Tuesday, will aim to replicate his success. The graduate senior pitched five scoreless innings, striking out three while allowing just three hits.
Spencer Rich persevered against East Carolina's formidable bullpen, recording the most hits in the series with a 5-16 performance and contributing four RBI. With Jalen DeBose back in the rotation following an injury scare in the team's AAC opener against Charlotte, his return bolsters FAU's lineup after going 2-6 with one RBI in his comeback against East Carolina.
Following their showdown with Miami, FAU continues their road trip as they head to Kansas for a three-game series against Wichita State starting April 12th. The games will air on ESPN+.
Hurricane Notables
Miami's recent struggles have been evident, with six consecutive losses against Clemson, FAU, and Duke over the past two weeks.
Their woes intensified over the weekend as they were swept by Duke in tight contests, further highlighting their vulnerability. As FAU prepares for Tuesday's matchup, they should aim to capitalize on Miami's downturn in form.
FAU's pitchers must remain vigilant against key Miami hitters: Jason Torres, Daniel Cuvet, and Dorian Gonzalez Jr. Torres boasts a .402 batting average, ranking fourth in the ACC and 50th nationally. Cuvet leads Miami in home runs with nine, while Gonzalez Jr. leads in RBIs with 34.
Miami plans to start redshirt freshman Ashton Crowther on Tuesday, who holds a 0-4 record this season with a 4.94 ERA over 23.2 innings. In their previous encounter with FAU on April 2nd, Crowther allowed two runs on five hits over 6.1 innings.
Looking ahead, Miami faces Florida State on the road in a three-game series starting April 11th, with the games airing on ACC Network.
End 1st: FAU 0, Miami 2
End 2nd: FAU 0, Miami 3