What: 2025 AAC Baseball Championship Tournament
When: May 20th @ 9:00 AM – May 25th
Where: BayCare Ballpark. Clearwater, FL
Video: ESPN Networks
Stats: Stats Broadcast
FAU vs Tulane Preview
For the second time in program history, Florida Atlantic will play in the AAC Championship on Tuesday morning at 9 am. The Owls will face off against Tulane in a 4 vs. 5 seed matchup. FAU enters the tournament with a 15-12 conference record (36-19 overall) and will be the fourth seed.
Last season, the Owls made an extraordinary run to the AAC semifinals round before falling to the same Green Wave team they will face on Tuesday.
The projected starter for Florida Atlantic on Tuesday will be LHP Trey Beard (7-0, 2.93 ERA). In Beard’s start this season against Tulane he pitched only one inning due to weather delaying the contest in the top of the second inning. Last year the Green Wave had Beard’s number as in his two appearances he pitched only 4.2 innings and allowed seven runs. This year is a new Trey Beard that Tulane did not get to face.
On the other side of the diamond will be Tulane’s LHP Luc Fladda (4-6, 6.53 ERA). In his 1.1 IP against the Owls, the Senior allowed eight earned runs and nine hits in his worst start of the season. He is 0-2 against Florida Atlantic since joining the Green Wave squad last season.
This will be the third time the two teams meet in the AAC tournament with Tulane throttling FAU last season. Remember, the Green Wave won the conference tournament title last year. In that title run, Tulane outscored the Owls 27-3. In the 2025 regular season, Florida Atlantic won the series thanks to two offensive explosions by the FAU bats.
The Owls WIN Game Three over #UAB 4-3 thanks to this @LipseyMarshall go-ahead 3-run #homer in the 7th ‼️ #FAU finishes the season 36-19 (15-12 #AAC) and heads to the conference tournament as the 4-seed. @FAUBaseball will either face #ECU or #Tulane on Tuesday. 🦉⚾️ #NCAABaseball pic.twitter.com/VZpNpADL8A
— FAU Owls Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) May 17, 2025
Owls Tournament Path
Regardless of what happens on Tuesday, FAU will either face Rice or UTSA in their next game.
Earlier this season Florida Atlantic defeated Rice in Games 1 and 3 while UTSA swept FAU. The Roadrunners will be a difficult task, but in tournament play anything can happen.
Notable Owls
FAU’s outfielders in Marshall Lipsey and John Schroeder have been dominant forces all season. Lipsey leads the AAC with a 1.075 OPS, is second on Florida Atlantic’s roster in home runs (12), and has 17 stolen bags on the year. His clutch hits from the Owls series win over UAB are the type of moments a tournament winning team exudes.
For Schroeder, he leads the Owls in home runs with 15 and has 49 RBIs to his name. His 106 total bases is second best on Florida Atlantic’s roster as well.
Infielders John Martinez and Brando Leroux have been proven commodities with their defensive play and offensive production. Martinez has a .294 batting average and leads FAU in doubles with 14.
Leroux has put on a show this season at short. Making phenomenal defensive plays, but also having a career year at the plate. Leroux is batting .322 entering the tournament. He ended last season batting .245. The Senior also is slugging .448 as well.
Florida Atlantic’s bullpen has proven to be a problem in 2025, but a few names standout for the Owls.
Closer MJ Bollinger is tied for the lead in the AAC with saves (11), has a 1.76 ERA, and earned 35 Ks in 41 IP.
Other important arms will be Zach Kilby, Carter Holjes, Nick Wimberly, and Steven Andrews.
AAC Tournament Bracket
Below is the bracket for this week’s action in Clearwater. It will be updated everyday so come back to check out future matchups and the Owls next opponents.
