Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Owls Stymied by USF
3/20/2021 9:15:00 PM | Baseball
TAMPA, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University baseball team saw their series against USF evened up at a game apiece with the Bulls' 4-0 win on Saturday night.
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Quotable
Head Coach John McCormack:
"We ran into a really good arm in Burns tonight, but we have to figure out a way to scratch together some runs. Defensively we have to play a tighter game. We will be back at it tomorrow to try and win the series."
The Beginning
USF (8-8) dented the scoreboard in the first, on a two-run home run over the foul pole in left. FAU (10-7) was held without a hit until Mitchell Hartigan led off the fifth with a double. The Owls would have two on after Jared DeSantolo drew a walk, but two groundouts ended the threat.
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The Turning Point
After getting out of that jam, the Bulls immediately doubled their lead with two in the home fifth, with the runs scoring on a fielder's choice and a sac fly.
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The Finish
In their final four turns, the Owls were held to just one baserunner, a two-out single by Nicholas Toney in the seventh. The eighth and ninth were both 1-2-3 frames.
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The Arms
The Owls and Bulls' Sunday finale is a 1 p.m. start. FAU then heads home for five in a row, starting Tuesday night against Miami.
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Quotable
Head Coach John McCormack:
"We ran into a really good arm in Burns tonight, but we have to figure out a way to scratch together some runs. Defensively we have to play a tighter game. We will be back at it tomorrow to try and win the series."
The Beginning
USF (8-8) dented the scoreboard in the first, on a two-run home run over the foul pole in left. FAU (10-7) was held without a hit until Mitchell Hartigan led off the fifth with a double. The Owls would have two on after Jared DeSantolo drew a walk, but two groundouts ended the threat.
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The Turning Point
After getting out of that jam, the Bulls immediately doubled their lead with two in the home fifth, with the runs scoring on a fielder's choice and a sac fly.
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The Finish
In their final four turns, the Owls were held to just one baserunner, a two-out single by Nicholas Toney in the seventh. The eighth and ninth were both 1-2-3 frames.
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The Arms
- Matt Sparling (2-1) took his first loss of the season, despite allowing just five hits in six innings, and striking out seven
- In the seventh, Braden Ostrander came on and needed just 11 pitches for a 1-2-3 inning, including two K's
- Sam Drumheller put up a zero as well, in the eighth, allowing just a two-out infield single (that would be erased on a caught stealing by Toney)
- Besides Hartigan and Toney's hits, and the walk to DeSantolo, the only other Owl to reach base was Nolan Schanuel, on a four-pitch BB in the fourth
The Owls and Bulls' Sunday finale is a 1 p.m. start. FAU then heads home for five in a row, starting Tuesday night against Miami.
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Players Mentioned
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: BURNS (1-2)
L: Sparling, Matt (2-1)

Batting:
2B: Hartigan, Mitchell 1

Batting:
2B: SULLIVAN, J. 2
HR: LANE 1
RBI: RUIZ 1 ; LANE 2 ; HOGAN 1
SH: BRUTCHER 1 ; HOGAN 1
SF: HOGAN 1
Base Running:
RUNS: BRUTCHER 1 ; PENA 1 ; LANE 1 ; SULLIVAN, J. 1
SB: BRUTCHER 1 ; HOGAN 1 ; GONZALEZ 1
CS: BESNIER 1
HBP: PENA 1 ; HOGAN 1
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