Owls Sweep East Carolina on the Road

Sunday, April 6

Greenville, N.C.

1 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

23-9, 5-4

East Carolina

20-13, 6-3

Florida Atlantic

East Carolina

Photo by: Alex Zadorozny

4/6/2025 6:06:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

GREENVILLE, N.C. – Florida Atlantic baseball held on for an 8-6 victory over East Carolina on Sunday to sweep the Pirates in American Athletic Conference play. The Owls (23-9, 5-4) are the first team to sweep ECU (20-13, 6-3) at home in conference play since Houston back in 2018.

THE BEGINNING

The Owls scored first for the third straight day when Jake Millan launched a two-run home run in the second inning. ECU responded with four runs on four hits in the bottom of the frame. Zach Kilby replaced starter James Litman and limited the damage to keep the Owls close.

THE TURNING POINT

The teams traded runs in the third, fourth, and sixth innings. The Owls trailed 6-4 entering the seventh when Pat Ward reached on a one-out error, and Jake Duer lined an opposite-field double down the left field line to cut the deficit to one. An RBI groundout by Ayden Garcia later in the inning brought the game back to all square. Carter Holjes worked around a leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh to keep the score tied.

In the eighth, leadoff hitter Brando Leroux teed off on the first pitch he saw. The senior shortstop's third home run of the season put the Owls in front for the first time since the second inning.

THE FINISH

The Owls added a crucial insurance run in the ninth. Again, it was Leroux who blooped a single into no-man's land in shallow left field. Danny Baez was running on the pitch and came around to score from first.

MJ Bollinger allowed two one-out singles in the ninth before locking down the final two outs on a pop-out and a flyout.

THE BATS

Garcia, Leroux, Millan, and John Schroeder each finished with two hits apiece.
Garcia also homered and scored two runs. The junior catcher has reached base in 18 straight games.
Marshall Lipsey drew two walks to extend his reached-base streak to 30 games.

THE ARMS

Litman allowed four runs on four hits, all of which were scored in the second inning.
Kilby contributed four innings and allowed one run on three hits. He struck out four.
Max Martzolf faced two batters in the sixth before giving way to Joey Abbazia for the final two outs.
Holjes earned his first win with a clean seventh inning.
Bollinger's seventh save of the season was a six-out effort.

QUOTABLE

Postgame with @FAUCoachMac #WIP🏝️ pic.twitter.com/vyPgKQLGzp
— Florida Atlantic Baseball (@FAUBaseball) April 6, 2025

WHAT'S NEXT

With no midweek contest on the schedule, the Owls will return to action at home next Friday, April 11, against Memphis. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. on ESPN+.