Owls Shut Out in Opener against Eagles

Friday, March 5

Boca Raton, Fla.

7 PM

Florida Atlantic

7-2

Florida Gulf Coast

7-2

FGCU

Florida Atlantic

3/5/2021 8:57:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The No. 21 Florida Atlantic University baseball team was stifled by Florida Gulf Coast Friday night, falling to the Eagles, 8-0, snapping the Owls' five-game winning streak in the process.

Quotable

Head Coach John McCormack:
"It's not disappointing, it's baseball (said McCormack of Friday's result). Let's give credit where credit is due, (Mason Studstill) threw great. I mean, he threw really well against a good offensive team and I think our guys pressed a little bit. We've got to pitch better, but I'm not disappointed."

The Beginning / The Turning Point
FGCU (7-2) took the early lead on a third-inning solo home run and added three more in the fifth. Meanwhile, the Owls' (7-2) bats were held to only two singles, in the first (Nolan Schanuel) and fourth (B.J. Murray). The latter was erased on a double play, as was a leadoff walk to Jared DeSantolo in the fifth.

The Finish
The Eagles added two two-out runs in the sixth, and two more in the eighth. FGCU starter Mason Studstill allowed only one more baserunner, a two-out walk to Sam Low in the eighth, and reliever Tyler Shuck threw a 1-2-3 ninth to complete the shutout.

The Arms

Jackson Spiller (0-1) started and took the loss. In four innings of work, he gave up three runs
Dylan O'Connell made his season debut, pitching the eighth
Not only making his first appearance this year, but also as an Owl, recording a perfect ninth with a strikeout, was Thomas Haggerty

The Bats

Schanuel was on twice with a single plus a walk
Murray extended his reached-base streak to 12 straight games, including the final four of 2020
Wilfredo Alvarez saw his similar streak come to an end at 11

What's Next

The second game of this series against FGCU is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Saturday, but in Fort Myers. The finale between the Owls and Eagles will be Sunday, at 2 p.m., at FAU Baseball Stadium. No tickets are available Sunday. For future home games, get tickets on FAU's baseball tickets website or by calling 1-866-FAU-OWLS.