Strong Pitching Leads Owls Over FIU

Friday, March 8

Boca Raton, Fla.

6:30 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

7-5

FIU

8-6

FIU

Florida Atlantic

3/8/2024 10:18:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic baseball (7-5) held a potent FIU (8-6) offense to five hits in a 4-1 victory on Friday night. The Owls will have a chance to win the series on Saturday afternoon when the teams play the middle game in Miami.

THE BEGINNING

The Owls opened the scoring in the first inning with an Andrew McKenna bases loaded sacrifice fly. They added a second run in the fourth via an FIU error. Meanwhile senior starting pitcher C.J. Williams held the Panthers high-scoring offense without a hit until there were two outs in the fifth inning.

THE TURNING POINT

After a John Schroeder home run in the sixth, the Owls led 3-1. In the eighth, the Panthers loaded the bases with no outs. Braden Ostrander relieved Danny Trehey and recorded a strikeout and two fly outs to escape the jam with the 3-1 lead still intact.

THE FINISH

Emilio Gonzalez added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth with an RBI single. Ostrander set the Panthers down in order in the ninth to preserve a 4-1 win.

QUOTABLE

Postgame with @FAUCoachMac #WinningInParadise pic.twitter.com/imahlntuDO
— Florida Atlantic Baseball (@FAUBaseball) March 9, 2024

THE ARMS

Williams improved to 3-0 with 5.2 innings and one run allowed. He struck out two and conceded three hits.
Trehey allowed two hits and a walk in a scoreless inning and a third.
Ostrander struck out two in two clean frames to pick up his first save of the season.

THE BATS

McKenna led the offense with two hits and two runs scored.
Schroeder's home run in the sixth was his first of the season.
Gonzalez took over the team lead in RBI with his run-scoring single in the eighth.
Freshman David Alvarez pinch-hit in the eighth and recorded his first career hit.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Owls will go for two straight when the series shifts to Miami on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m. The finale will be back in Boca Raton on Sunday at noon.

TICKETS

To purchase FAU tickets, call 1-866-FAU-OWLS or click HERE. Stay informed by reading FAUSports.com, or through the baseball's Twitter and Instagram accounts @FAUBaseball.