Owls Take Series Opener Against Wichita State

Thursday, April 17

Boca Raton, Fla.

6:30 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

25-12, 7-6

Wichita State

12-25, 4-9

Wichita State

Florida Atlantic

Photo by: Ryan Tran

4/17/2025 11:20:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic baseball returned to the win column with a 9-2 victory over Wichita State on Thursday night at the FAU Baseball Stadium. The Owls (25-12, 7-6) and the Shockers (12-25, 4-9) will square off in the middle game at 6:30 p.m. on Friday.

THE BEGINNING

The Owls got off to a flying start with a five-run first inning. Patrick Ward got the scoring started with an RBI single. Then, with two outs and the bases loaded, Nick Romano lined a 1-1 pitch off the right field foul pole for a grand slam.

FAU would add another run on a solo homer by Ayden Garcia in the third inning. In the fourth, Marshall Lipsey roped a double to the right field corner to score Danny Baez and extend the Owls' lead to 7-1.

TURNING POINT

While the offense was slugging away, sophomore starting pitcher Trey Beard was on cruise control on the mound. The lefty tossed six innings and allowed one run on five hits. He added seven strikeouts to bring his AAC-leading total to 92 for the season.

Beard gave way to the bullpen in the seventh. The Shockers tagged Kide Adetuyi for a run on two hits. Carter Holjes came on and stranded a pair of runners on base with back-to-back strikeouts.

THE FINISH

Holjes retired the Shockers in order in the eighth as well. For good measure, the FAU offense added two more runs in the bottom of the frame. John Schroeder lined a bases-loaded single to center to bring in Romano and Brando Leroux. Ryan Buckler handled the ninth inning without issue to secure the 9-2 final.

THE BATS

Lipsey reached base three times via a double, a single, and a hit-by-pitch. The junior has reached base safely in 35 straight games.
Danny Baez started at designated hitter and finished 3-for-4 with three singles.
Romano's grand slam was his third home run of the season. He finished 1-for-3 with two runs scored.
Garcia's home run was his fifth of the campaign. He also scored two runs.
With a pair of RBI, Schroeder brought his season total to 31, tied with Lipsey for the team lead.

THE ARMS

Beard ran his record to 7-0. With seven strikeouts added to his season total, the sophomore is 38 away from tying the single-season program record of 130.
As a team, the Owls struck out 13 Wichita State hitters: Adetuyi contributed one, Holjes three, and Buckler two.

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