What: FAU (12-7) vs. Charlotte (10-12)

When: Fri, March 22nd @ 1:00 PM
           Sat, March 23rd @ 4:00 PM
           Sun, March 24th @ 12:00 PM

Where: FAU Baseball Stadium

Video: ESPN+

Live Stats: Here

Charlotte Team Site: Here

Series: Owls lead 20-11 all-time against the 49ers.

Projected Starting Pitchers:

CHA - LHP Cole Reynolds (3-1, 5.91 ERA)
FAU - RHP CJ Williams (4-0, 3.14 ERA)

CHA - RHP Tony Rossi (1-1, 1.93 ERA)
FAU - RHP Tyler Murphy (3-0, 1.42 ERA)

CHA - TBA
FAU - TBA


Owl Notables

Despite a narrow defeat on the road against UCF in the midweek, the Owls are currently riding a wave of positive momentum as they gear up for their AAC opener.

FAU demonstrates impressive pitching prowess, boasting the second-best ERA in the American Athletic Conference at 3.91, which ranks them 21st in the nation. Additionally, the Owls rank within the top 20 nationally with two shutouts and hold the 62nd position across Division I with a team WHIP of 1.42.

Christian Adams earned a spot on the AAC's Weekly Honor Roll for the second time this season, following his outstanding performance against Maine. He went 6-12 at the plate, securing seven RBIs, including a game-winning grand slam. Adams has also successfully reached base in 12 consecutive games.

Tyler Murphy, the Sunday starter, leads FAU's rotation with an impressive 1.42 ERA, positioning him fourth in the AAC and 15th in the country. Meanwhile, Friday starter C.J. Williams also boasts a noteworthy national ranking, standing at 170th with a 3.14 ERA. Both Williams and Murphy rank within the top 50 nationally in victories, with four and three wins, respectively.

Four Owls have maintained a batting average of .300 or higher this season, with John Schroeder (pictured below via Rick Henderson) leading the pack at .343. Schroeder also leads FAU in total hits (23), doubles (5), and RBIs (21). Andrew McKenna, despite batting .267, stands out nationally with five sacrifice flies, ranking second in the nation.

A tweak in the starting rotation for pitchers is forthcoming, with Murphy taking the mound on Saturday afternoon, while head coach John McCormack determines the best candidate for Sunday's game. This change directly impacts Trey Beard, the previous Saturday starter, who holds a 5.40 ERA after 18.1 innings. The specific adjustment in his role for future games remains to be seen.

After this series, the Owls stay home as they host FGCU on March 26th at 6:30 PM. The game will be broadcast on FAU TV.



The starters (in non-batting order) for game one could be that of the below:

RF John Schroeder
CF Jalen DeBose
LF Carter Brady or Jake Millan
1B Emilio Gonzalez
2B Christian Adams
3B Patrick Ward
DH Dylan LaPointe or Carter Brady
SS Brando Leroux
C Andrew McKenna
P CJ Williams


49er Notables

Charlotte is enduring a challenging period, suffering four consecutive losses against UNCW, Davidson, and Gardner-Webb.

With a combined score of 37-14 in favor of their opponents, the 49ers find themselves in a vulnerable position, presenting an opportunity for an FAU team eager to ignite their offensive prowess.

Offensively, junior Thad Ector leads the 49ers with a batting average of .353. Among the starters, he is the sole player batting over .300, boasting 24 hits so far this season.

Juan Correa has recently showcased his power by hitting home runs in three consecutive games. His impressive streak includes a solo home run against UNCW, a liner over the wall at Atrium Health Ballpark, and a two-run blast to center in the following game. Correa currently leads the Niners with five homers this season.

On the pitching front, left-handed long reliever AJ Wilson maintains a commendable 2.78 ERA across 22.2 innings. His stellar performance earned him recognition on the AAC Honor Roll, following a week where he struck out 14 batters while allowing just one hit, one walk, and one hit batter.

The Owls must approach Charlotte's bullpen with caution, as the 49ers boast an impressive 267 strikeouts, averaging 12.71 strikeouts per nine innings. This places them at the top of the American Athletic Conference and ranks them third in the nation, trailing only Arkansas and Florida State.

Following this matchup, Charlotte will return home for a midweek break before hosting USF for a three-game series starting on March 28th at 6:00 PM EST. The series will be broadcast on ESPN+.