Owls Knock Off Villanova in Series Opener

Friday, February 27

Boca Raton, Fla.

6:30 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

4-5

Villanova

2-4

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Villanova	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	1	0	4	10	0
Florida Atlantic	0	2	3	0	4	0	0	2	X	11	15	1

2/27/2026 11:39:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic baseball (4-5) recorded season highs in runs and hits on Friday night in an 11-4 victory over Villanova (2-4) at the FAU Baseball Stadium. The Owls will look to win the series on Saturday at noon.

THE BEGINNING
The Owls revved up the offense early on Friday night, with two runs in the second and three more in the third, to lead 5-0. In the second, after singles by Brando Leroux and Michael Perazza, TJ Gramesty lined a two-out base hit to center field to make it 2-0. It was the redshirt freshman's first collegiate hit. The Owls tacked on three more in the third via a bases-loaded wild pitch, a sacrifice fly by Perazza, and an RBI single from John Martinez.

THE TURNING POINT
Villanova got on the board with a run in the fourth, but the Owls busted the game open with four in the fifth, all with two outs. Martinez and Xavier Moronta reached on back-to-back singles before Gramesty cashed in again for his second RBI hit of the night. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded, Nick Romano drove in two with an opposite-field single to make it 9-1.

THE FINISH
The Wildcats chipped away with two in the seventh and one in the eighth to make it 9-4. Florida Atlantic responded with more insurance in the bottom of the eighth. Perazza tripled off the wall in center field to bring Eli Small home, and Martinez followed with his third hit of the night to score Perazza. Villanova loaded the bases in the ninth inning but came away empty-handed as the Owls sealed the 11-4 win.

QUOTABLE

Postgame with @FAUCoachMac #WIP🏝️ pic.twitter.com/byGNnTBVxF
— Florida Atlantic Baseball (@FAUBaseball) February 28, 2026

THE BATS

Romano (3-for-4), Perazza (3-for-4), and Martinez (3-for-5) combined for nine of the Owls' 15 hits.
The trio also finished with two RBI each, accounting for six of the 11 runs.
Perazza also stole a base and scored two runs.
Gramesty finished 2-for-5 and recorded his second and third RBI of the season.

THE ARMS

James Litman (2-1) earned the win on the mound after six innings, allowing just one run on six hits.
Litman struck out seven and walked two.

WHAT'S NEXT
The Owls and Wildcats reconvene on Saturday at noon for game two.

FOLLOW THE OWLS
To stay up to date on all things Florida Atlantic baseball, follow us on social media @faubaseball.