Baseball to Host Two Midweek Games, as Part of Five in Next Six Days

Florida Atlantic Baseball vs. Quinnipiac
Series Details	Boca Raton, Fla. \| FAU Baseball Stadium \| Tickets Tuesday, March 12 \| 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 13 \| 6:30 p.m.
Game Coverage	Streaming: FAUSports.TV Live Stats Twitter: @FAU_Baseball
Florida Atlantic Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule \| FAU-Quinnipiac Game Notes
Quinnipiac Links	News \| Roster \| Schedule

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University baseball team, winners of six of their last seven, looks next to right the midweek ship. The Owls will face Quinnipiac, for the first time since 1987, at 6:30 p.m. on both Tuesday and Wednesday at FAU Baseball Stadium.

Owls' Weekend in Review
Following a sweep of Monmouth the weekend prior, the Owls (9-7) took all three against Northeastern at home in these last three games as well. Centerfielder Eric Rivera has blown up as of late, raising his batting average 199 points over his last 10 games. He has had eight multi-hit games in that span, including in each of the last five, and is hitting .391 overall. Rivera also continues to be among the nation's toughest batters to strike out, just twice this year in 78 plate appearances. The Sunday finale win was gained due in large part to junior righthander Mike Ruff. After giving up a leadoff home run, he retired each of the next 13 Huskies, and needed just 86 pitches over a seven-inning stint (matching his career high). He scattered four hits, struck out five and did not walk a batter in the 2-1 victory.

Owls' Midweek in Preview
Quinnipiac (4-6) spent this past weekend in the Sunshine State as well, topping FGCU Sunday to salvage a win and stave off the Eagles' attempt at a sweep. The squad also has wins this season over then-No. 20 Wake Forest, and two on the road at Norfolk State. The team's top hitter is Colton Bender, at .367, with two Bobcats leading the way at nine RBI apiece, Kevin Huscher and Evan Vulgamore. Like an earlier opponent of the Owls, Monmouth, the Bobcats are members of the MAAC, and went 26-30 overall a year ago and 16-8 in league play to tie for second. Conference voters picked them preseason No. 4, and voted outfielder Liam Scafariello as Preseason Player of the Year. Joining him on the preseason All-MAAC squad were Bender at catcher, third baseman Vulgamore and fellow outfielder Brian Moskey.

Midweek Probable Starting Pitchers

Tuesday: FAU: Jon Jon Kostantis, Fr. RHP (1-0, 1.17) vs. QU: Derek Goldrick, Fr. RHP (Collegiate debut)
Wednesday: FAU: Eric Keating, R-Jr. LHP (0-0, 16.20) vs. QU: Joe Preciado, So. RHP (0-0, 10.12)

Opponent History
Only three times prior have the Owls and Bobcats matched up, all the way back in the fledgling years of the FAU program in 1986 and 1987. The squads split games in Boca Raton in '86, with FAU winning the first, 5-1, and Quinnipiac the second, 4-3 in eight innings. The following year, on March 20, 1987, the Owls prevailed at home, 13-5.

Owls' Baseball on Social Media
Follow along with the team on Twitter @FAU_Baseball, on Instagram, and "like" FAU Baseball on Facebook.

After This
This upcoming weekend holds the opening series of the 2019 Conference USA slate, Owls vs. Owls, as FAU hosts Rice. Game times are 6:30 p.m. Friday, 4 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday. Purchase tickets by calling 1-866-FAU-OWLS or visiting baseball's ticket website.

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