Baseball Takes Fifth Straight, Winning Series Opener vs. Charlotte

Friday, April 6

Boca Raton, Fla.

6:30 PM

Florida Atlantic

22-8, 0

Charlotte

15-14, 0

Charlotte

Florida Atlantic

Baseball Takes Fifth Straight, Winning Series Opener vs. Charlotte

4/6/2018 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

April 6, 2018

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Florida Atlantic University baseball team had two multi-run homers for all of their scoring, and Jake Miednik pitched into the ninth inning in Friday night's series opener against Charlotte, winning 5-2 at FAU Baseball Stadium.

Quotable

"I thought our guys did a really nice job off their pitcher, he's a senior (and) is having a good year," said Head Coach John McCormack. "It was a really good Conference USA matchup pitching-wise. I thought our guys did what they were supposed to do, Jake pitched really well â€¦ and Peden came in and bailed us out."

The Turning Point

The Owls (22-8, 7-3 C-USA) continued their recent stretch of first-inning fireworks, and Miednik made that lead hold up. Tyler Frank led off with a walk and Joe Montes reached on an infield single. A fielder's choice put runners on first and third, and Pedro Pages hit a line shot off the concrete light pole in right-center for a three-run home run. Miednik was pretty much untouchable in his first five innings, allowing just two hits and a walk, with no 49er reaching second base.

The Finish

Charlotte (15-14, 5-5 C-USA) got on the board with a solo shot by Zack Smith in the top of the sixth, but the Owls got that back plus one more in the home half. Another single by Montes led off the inning, and Miranda crushed an 0-1 pitch out to right, making it 5-1. Miednik attempted to complete the game in the ninth, but was relieved when Charlotte's first two reached, with one scoring on an error in the outfield. Drew Peden came on and immediately picked off the runner at second, and after an infield hit, induced a flyout and groundout for his first save of the season.

The Bat

The Owls' 2-4 hitters (Montes, Miranda and Pages) had five of the team's seven hits, while Cody Wilson had the other two
Miranda's 2-for-4 showing was his seventh multi-hit game in his last 10. In that span, he's raised his season batting average 83 points to .330, and he's scored seven runs in the last three Owls' wins
Frank's record-tying 24-game hitting streak came to a close, as Charlotte rightfielder Jake Whitcomb made a diving catch of a sinking liner in the fifth, and he was intentionally walked with a runner at third and two outs in the seventh

The Arms

Miednik (5-1) scattered six hits and allowed one earned run while striking out six
Peden's three outs in the ninth came on just 14 pitches

What's Next

The Owls and 49ers' game two begins at 4 p.m. Saturday afternoon. FAU will start Vince Coletti, while Charlotte's starter has not yet been announced. Buy tickets by calling 1-866-FAU-OWLS or visiting www.fausports.com/tickets/baseball-tickets.html.