Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Photo by: Jim Rassol/Owlpix.com
Baseball Caps Off Season-Opening Sweep
2/16/2020 3:50:00 PM | Baseball
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University baseball team battled both Delaware and rain for the third straight day, with the weather forcing early stoppage, but the Owls completed the sweep with an 8-2 rain-shortened win. This marks the sixth straight season FAU has started the season off with a sweep, and in all 12 years under head coach John McCormack, the Owls have won their Opening Weekend series.
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"Guys played great, gave up two (in the second), and then came back and really really swung the bats well. Corey (Ireson) settled down and had a nice outing and Dante Visconti was able to get in there for his first collegiate appearance, did well and got through it. But Cade Parker, wow. Gets his first start in centerfield, goes 3-for-3 with a double, home run and a single, couple RBI, good for him. Good job, way (for him) to come out of the gates swinging."
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Full Opening Statement from Coach Mac
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The Turning Point
The Owls (3-0) scored in every inning, including taking a 2-0 lead in the first, with runs scoring on a sac fly and passed ball. UD (0-3) did tie it with two of their own in the top of the second, but an Alex Arauz home run gave FAU the lead to stay.
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The Finish
As mentioned, FAU continued scoring, with one more in the second, one in the third, two in the fourth and one in the fifth before the rain caused a literal finish. The one in the fifth was a leadoff blast by true freshman Cade Parker, capping off a 3-for-3 day at the plate for him and recording the third homer of the day for the Owls (along with Andru Summerall's two-run blast in the fourth).
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The Arms
Corey Ireson (1-0) gave up the two second-inning Blue Hen runs, but allowed only one baserunner in his other three frames
His final line was four innings, three hits, two runs, two walks and four strikeouts
Another true freshman, Dante Visconti, hurled a scoreless fifth
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The Bats
The Owls' seven-eight-nine hitters combined for six of the team's 10 hits, knocked in three and scored four runs
Parker was 3-for-3, and like BJ Murray on Friday, was just a triple short of the cycle. He knocked in two and scored twice
Tucker Mitchell notched his first collegiate hit as well and scored a run in the seven-hole
Arauz went 2-for-3 hitting between the two
Both Bobby Morgensen and Summerall each had two RBI
All but one Owl reached base, and the team as a whole now has reached in all 21 innings at the plate this season
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Quotable
Head Coach John McCormack:"Guys played great, gave up two (in the second), and then came back and really really swung the bats well. Corey (Ireson) settled down and had a nice outing and Dante Visconti was able to get in there for his first collegiate appearance, did well and got through it. But Cade Parker, wow. Gets his first start in centerfield, goes 3-for-3 with a double, home run and a single, couple RBI, good for him. Good job, way (for him) to come out of the gates swinging."
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Full Opening Statement from Coach Mac
Â
The Turning Point
The Owls (3-0) scored in every inning, including taking a 2-0 lead in the first, with runs scoring on a sac fly and passed ball. UD (0-3) did tie it with two of their own in the top of the second, but an Alex Arauz home run gave FAU the lead to stay.
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The Finish
As mentioned, FAU continued scoring, with one more in the second, one in the third, two in the fourth and one in the fifth before the rain caused a literal finish. The one in the fifth was a leadoff blast by true freshman Cade Parker, capping off a 3-for-3 day at the plate for him and recording the third homer of the day for the Owls (along with Andru Summerall's two-run blast in the fourth).
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The Arms
Corey Ireson (1-0) gave up the two second-inning Blue Hen runs, but allowed only one baserunner in his other three frames
His final line was four innings, three hits, two runs, two walks and four strikeouts
Another true freshman, Dante Visconti, hurled a scoreless fifth
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The Bats
The Owls' seven-eight-nine hitters combined for six of the team's 10 hits, knocked in three and scored four runs
Parker was 3-for-3, and like BJ Murray on Friday, was just a triple short of the cycle. He knocked in two and scored twice
Tucker Mitchell notched his first collegiate hit as well and scored a run in the seven-hole
Arauz went 2-for-3 hitting between the two
Both Bobby Morgensen and Summerall each had two RBI
All but one Owl reached base, and the team as a whole now has reached in all 21 innings at the plate this season
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What's Next
FAU will host Florida Gulf Coast for a Tuesday night, 6:30 p.m. matchup. Following that is the completion of the team's season-opening seven-game homestand, with three next weekend at FAU Baseball Stadium against Binghamton.Â
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Ireson, Corey (1-0)
L: Wakeley, Derek (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Carpenter, Joseph 1
RBI: Riley, Aidan 1 ; Lesher, Zach 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Carpenter, Joseph 1 ; Goan, Jack 1

Batting:
2B: Parker, Cade 1
HR: Summerall, Andru 1 ; Arauz, Alex 1 ; Parker, Cade 1
RBI: Morgensen, Bobby 2 ; Summerall, Andru 2 ; Arauz, Alex 1 ; Parker, Cade 2
SF: Morgensen, Bobby 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Urbaez, Francisco 1 ; Alvarez, Wilfredo 1 ; Morgensen, Bobby 1 ; Summerall, Andru 1 ; Mitchell, Tucker 1 ; Arauz, Alex 1 ; Parker, Cade 2
SB: Hartigan, Mitchell 1
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