Duer Walks it Off, Owls Sweep Fordham

Sunday, March 2

Boca Raton, Fla.

12 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

10-1

Fordham

2-9

Fordham

Florida Atlantic

Photo by: Jessica Marshall Vernof/FAU Athletics

3/2/2025 4:50:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Jake Duer launched a walk-off solo home run in the bottom of the ninth to give Florida Atlantic baseball a 6-5 win over Fordham on Sunday at the FAU Baseball Stadium. The Owls swept the Rams to improve to 10-1 on the season.

THE BEGINNING

The Owls looked to be in complete control early in Sunday's series finale thanks in part to a four-run first inning. Back-to-back RBI doubles by Duer and Jake Millan opened the scoring. Sacrifice flies by Nick Romano and Kyle Boylston made it 4-0 and chased Fordham starter AJ Pino after less than an inning.

THE TURNING POINT

On the other side, FAU freshman James Litman held the opponent in check for the third consecutive Sunday. Litman reached new career-highs in innings (five) and strikeouts (five). He allowed just one unearned run before departing with the lead.

After Litman exited, the Rams chipped away in the middle innings. They scored one in the sixth and another in the seventh to cut the Owls' lead to 4-3. Romano came through with an RBI single in the seventh to restore the two-run cushion.

THE FINISH

After Steven Andrews recorded the first out of the eighth, the Rams' Daniel Bucciero lined a double off the center field wall. A base hit by Madden Ocko followed, and a throwing error allowed Ocko to reach second base. MJ Bollinger entered for Andrews and conceded a single that scored both runners.

Bollinger limited the damage, escaped the eighth with the game still tied, and then pitched a scoreless ninth to set the stage for Duer's heroics. The junior from Flower Mound, Texas. stepped in to lead off the ninth and lined a 1-1 pitch over the right-center field fence for his first home run in an FAU uniform.

Jake Duer caps off a MONSTER week at the plate with his first HR as an Owl! #WIP🏝️ pic.twitter.com/dp07CMGwpS
— Florida Atlantic Baseball (@FAUBaseball) March 2, 2025

THE BATS

Duer finished 2-for-5 – his eighth multi-hit game of the season
He extended his hitting streak to nine games and is hitting .520 for the season
Duer finished the four-game week 9-for-17 at the plate with three doubles, six runs scored, and four RBI

THE ARMS

Litman allowed three hits in his five innings – the only run on his line was unearned after an error and a squeeze bunt
Braden Ostrander and Kide Adetuyi combined in the sixth and seventh innings, allowing one run each
Only one of the two runs on Andrews' line was earned – the Owls finished the day with a season-high three errors
Bollinger (1-1) earned the win with 1.2 scoreless frames – 18 of the 19 pitches he threw went for strikes

QUOTABLE

Postgame with @FAUCoachMac #WIP🏝️ pic.twitter.com/axeXsdQEnv
— Florida Atlantic Baseball (@FAUBaseball) March 2, 2025

WHAT'S NEXT

The Owls will face their toughest test yet on Wednesday when they travel to Gainesville to face No. 8 Florida (11-1). First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. on SEC Network Plus. FAU returns home next Saturday for the middle game in a home-and-home against FIU.