No. 17 Owls Walkoff Against WKU, Keep Title Hopes Alive

Thursday, May 19

Boca Raton, Fla.

6:30 PM

Florida Atlantic

35-14, 19-8

WKU

24-28, 10-18

WKU

Florida Atlantic

5/20/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

May 20, 2016

Final Stats

BOCA RATON, Fla. â€" Freshman Tyler Frank hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 12th inning to give the Florida Atlantic University baseball team a walk-off victory over WKU to keep the chance of a Conference USA championship within reach.

The No. 17 Owls will play a doubleheader against WKU on Friday, May 20 with the first pitch slated for 1 p.m. and the second game to follow approximately 30 minutes after. With two wins, FAU could win the C-USA regular-season title, pending results of other games around the league as the Owls sit half-a-game back of first place.

"Anytime you win, you've got to be happy," FAU Head Coach John McCormack said. "I thought we pitched well. I was surprised they didn't walk Frank, because he was having a good night, but I'm thankful that they didn't."

Senior Brandon Rhodes, making his final start at the FAU Baseball Stadium, dealt seven innings with four strikeouts, but was left with a no-decision. Fellow senior Robbie Coursel earned the win, allowing one hit in one inning of work.

CJ Chatham went 2-for-5 from the plate while Frank tallied a double, two walks and two-RBI, including the game-winner. Billy Endris also hit a double, scored and drove in a run.

Rhodes struck out four of the first five he faced as both starting pitchers breezed through the first three frames.

A solo homer in the top of the fourth gave WKU a lead, which the Hilltoppers extended to 2-0 with a run in the top of the sixth.

Kerr and Endris hit back-to-back doubles to lead off the bottom of the sixth to cut the lead in half before three straight walks, including a bases-loaded walk by Frank, tied the game.

WKU loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth before Carr was able to coax a ground ball which FAU converted into a 4-6-3 double play to escape the jam.

Three consecutive singles allowed WKU to re-take the lead in the top of the ninth. FAU, however, would not go quietly.

Gunnar Lambert was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the inning and was replaced on the base path by Ben Siegel. After a sac bunt and a groundout, Siegel hustled home on a wild pitch to send the game to extra innings.

After a lead-off single by Esteban Puerta and a walk to Christian Dicks in the bottom of the 12th, a sac bunt moved both runners into scoring position with one out. Frank then drove a fly ball to left, allowing Puerta to score the game-winner.

Video streams are available for Friday's doubleheader on FAUSports.com and tickets may be purchased by calling 1-866-FAU-OWLS.