Pitching, Small Ball Lead Owls Past Rice

Friday, March 27

Houston, Texas

7:30 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

15-11, 2-2

Rice

15-12, 1-3

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

3/28/2026 12:27:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

HOUSTON – Florida Atlantic baseball (15-11, 2-2 American) took the series opener from Rice (15-12, 1-3 American) by a 6-2 final on Friday night in Houston. The visiting Owls used a dominant combined effort from starter James Litman and reliever Zach Kilby and scored all six runs on balls hit on the infield.

THE BEGINNING
Rice tagged Litman for two runs in the second inning before the sophomore settled in and delivered 5.1 solid frames. After the second inning, Litman allowed just three more hits.

Florida Atlantic got on the board in the third. With the bases loaded and one out, Brett Patten beat out a ground ball for a potential double play. A run scored to make it 2-1.

The bases were loaded with one out again in the fourth. This time, it was Nick Romano who hit a ground ball to the second baseman. Kyle Boylston beat the throw to second, and Romano beat the throw to first. A run scored, everyone was safe, and the bases were still loaded. One batter later, Michael Perazza hit another ground ball to the second baseman. Rice was able to get the out at second this time, but Perazza was safe at first. TJ Gramesty scored the go-ahead run from third, and heads-up baserunning by Boylston allowed him to score from second on the play and make it 4-2 FAU.

Ground ball with the bases loaded for a double play? Nope, just your everyday 2-RBI fielders choice for Michael Perazza...

M4 | FAU 4, Rice 2 pic.twitter.com/wAY2WumB6i
— Florida Atlantic Baseball (@FAUBaseball) March 28, 2026

THE TURNING POINT
Romano and Perazza were involved again as the Owls added two insurance runs in the eighth. Marshall Lipsey led off with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Gramesty. After Boylston walked, Romano delivered a picture-perfect squeeze bunt down the first base line. The bunt was so good that there was no play to be made at first, and the second baseman's attempted flip to the first baseman resulted in an error that allowed Boylston to go to third base.

With the same situation still in place for the next batter, Perazza, the Owls went right back to the squeeze play. Again, it was executed to perfection. The play was made at first, but Boylston scored from third to make it 6-2.

We 🫶 SMALL BALL! Nick Romano and Michael Perazza BUNTING for RBIs!

M8 | FAU 6, Rice 2 pic.twitter.com/W2d2BMUVsR
— Florida Atlantic Baseball (@FAUBaseball) March 28, 2026

THE FINISH
Kilby took over for Litman with two on and one out in the sixth and proceeded to retire all 11 batters he faced. He closed out his first career save with a perfect ninth inning.

QUOTABLE
Head Coach John McCormack

Postgame with @FAUCoachMac #WIP🏝️ pic.twitter.com/HtPZFQ2PKK
— Florida Atlantic Baseball (@FAUBaseball) March 28, 2026

THE BATS

Five FAU Owls finished with multi-hit games, led by Perazza, who had two hits and three RBI.
Boylston singled twice and scored three runs.
Romano singled twice and finished with two RBI.
Brando Leroux recorded a 2-for-5 line with a run scored.
Lipsey singled and registered the Owls' lone extra-base hit of the night with his double to lead off the eighth.
The Owls stole five bases, led by a pair from Patten, who now leads the team with 12.

THE ARMS

Litman improved to 4-2. He struck out five and walked two.
Kilby struck out two in 3.2 perfect innings.

WHAT'S NEXT
Game two is set for 3 p.m. ET on Saturday afternoon.

FOLLOW THE OWLS
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