Florida Atlantic (36-19, 15-12 AAC) traveled to Alabama squaring off against UAB (24-30, 8-19 AAC) in the final weekend of the regular season. In a series full of offense, the Owls took games one and three to earn the win over the Blazers.
Game One
The first game of the series was a big one for both squads as both teams had postseason hopes on their mind. While FAU’s was a top two seed, UAB’s was making the tournament.
It seemed the Blazers were going to keep hope alive early as a four-run first inning gave them the lead 4-0. Thankfully for the Owls a three-spot in the third capped off by a two-run blast from Jake Millan, and a solo shot from John Schroeder in the fourth evened the game at four.
The contest stayed at a stand still until the top of the sixth when FAU scored five runs. Four of those runs came off the bat of Millan with his grand slam. The Blazers cut the deficit down to four in the bottom of the sixth, but Florida Atlantic led 9-5.
Carter Brady added some insurance in the eighth thanks to his RBI single, while Schroeder and Martinez went back-to-back capping off an offensive explosion of six home runs for the Owls. FAU held on to win 12-9 after a four-run bottom of the ninth for the Blazers.
Starting LHP Trey Beard was roughened up in the first but shut down UAB for the next three innings. He finished the contest with three Ks, and allowed four hits. RHP Braden Ostrander earned the win, his fourth on the season.
Game Two
It’s not a copy and paste error, but the Blazers scored four runs in the first for a second day in a row. UAB added two more runs over the next two innings and commanded the ball game at 6-0.
The first Owls runs came in the seventh inning. Brando Leroux scored thanks to a Ayden Garcia base hit. Afterwards, Carter Brady plated two thanks to his homer run.
Those would be the only runs Florida Atlantic put on the board as FAU fell 11-3.
RHP Tyler Murphy, who returned to the rotation on Saturday, lasted only 1.2 innings. The Junior gave up four earned runs and five hits.
Game Three
FAU entered Saturday in a good spot. The Owls already locked up the four seed in the conference tournament, and were just looking for a series win.
For the first time all series, no runs came across in the first. The scoring started in the fourth when Leroux scored Martinez putting the Owls up 1-0. UAB responded leading 2-1 entering the top of the fifth.
In the bottom half of the fifth the Blazers scored once more, leading 3-1. That lead held until the seventh. There, Marshall Lipsey hit a go-ahead three run homer that put Florida Atlantic in the driver’s seat, 4-3. MJ Bollinger came in to pitch the eighth and ninth inning and earned his 11th save on the season.
Starting RHP James Litman pitched four innings, allowed two earned runs and struck out four.
Series Notables
According to the stats sheet, this seemed to be a series win for the Blazers. UAB had a batting average of .321, an ERA nearly two points better than the Owls, and scored more runs overall.
Nonetheless, the series went in the way of Florida Atlantic. A .255 batting average, with eight home runs was just enough to get past the Blazers.
While it was a victory, FAU still did not find consistency in their arms. All three starters were beat up. Two went only four innings, Litman did not make it out of the second. As a team, pitching produced a 7.62 ERA.
A reliance on the offense is what Florida Atlantic once again fell back on. Redshirt Junior, Nick Romano was one of the reliable bats. He hit at a .545 clip, was a scored run three times, and had six hits.
Meanwhile, Redshirt Junior Carter Brady was another standout for FAU as he made the most of his three hits on the weekend. Brady hit two home runs, his first two on the season. If the Owls can rely on another home run hitter entering the conference tournament, it will help Florida Atlantic immensely.
It’s been a tough road after the losses of Jake Duer and Patrick Ward, but if any bat can come close to their production it may be a nice trip to the Gulf Coast.
Look Ahead
The Owls will face Tulane in the first round of the AAC Tournament on Tuesday at 9 AM. FAU won the series against the Green Wave, but will face a new challenge in knowing it’s only a maximum of two losses for the next six days.
