Upcoming Event: Baseball at FIU on March 7, 2026 at 6 p.m.
6 p.m.
Baseball
at FIU
Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Owls Fly by FIU in Seven Innings
3/6/2026 10:28:00 PM | Baseball
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic baseball (7-6) needed just seven innings on Friday night to win the series opener over FIU (7-8) by a 14-2 final. The Owls will look to win the series on Saturday when the teams reconvene for game two in Miami.
THE BEGINNING
FIU scored first in the third inning, but Florida Atlantic quickly responded with four runs in the bottom of the frame. After tying the game on a throwing error, John Martinez and Patrick Ward recorded back-to-back RBI singles to make it 3-1. Ward would score on a balk later in the inning.
THE TURNING POINT
Sophomore starter James Litman quickly struck out the side in the fourth inning, and the offense went right back to work. Martinez was involved again, this time driving in two runs with another single.
It was 7-1 in the fifth inning when Marshall Lipsey connected for his first home run of the season, a line drive, two-run shot into the bullpen in right field.
THE FINISH
The Owls capped off a huge night of offense with five runs in the sixth inning. After three walks, an infield single, and a wild pitch allowed one run to score, TJ Gramesty roped a bases-loaded two-run double into the gap in right-center field to put the home team up 12-1. A Kyle Boylston sacrifice fly tacked on one more. Finally, Lipsey went to the opposite field for an RBI single to make it 14-1.
With the 10-after-7 run-rule in play, FIU scored a consolation run in the seventh before Litman finished his complete game with his 10th strikeout of the night.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach John McCormack
THE BATS
THE ARMS
WHAT'S NEXT
Game two is set for a 6 p.m. first pitch on Saturday night in Miami. The series returns to the FAU Baseball Stadium for the finale on Sunday at noon.
THE BEGINNING
FIU scored first in the third inning, but Florida Atlantic quickly responded with four runs in the bottom of the frame. After tying the game on a throwing error, John Martinez and Patrick Ward recorded back-to-back RBI singles to make it 3-1. Ward would score on a balk later in the inning.
THE TURNING POINT
Sophomore starter James Litman quickly struck out the side in the fourth inning, and the offense went right back to work. Martinez was involved again, this time driving in two runs with another single.
It was 7-1 in the fifth inning when Marshall Lipsey connected for his first home run of the season, a line drive, two-run shot into the bullpen in right field.
THE FINISH
The Owls capped off a huge night of offense with five runs in the sixth inning. After three walks, an infield single, and a wild pitch allowed one run to score, TJ Gramesty roped a bases-loaded two-run double into the gap in right-center field to put the home team up 12-1. A Kyle Boylston sacrifice fly tacked on one more. Finally, Lipsey went to the opposite field for an RBI single to make it 14-1.
With the 10-after-7 run-rule in play, FIU scored a consolation run in the seventh before Litman finished his complete game with his 10th strikeout of the night.
QUOTABLE
Head Coach John McCormack
Postgame with @FAUCoachMac #WIP🏝️ pic.twitter.com/gdFfN8fzEb
— Florida Atlantic Baseball (@FAUBaseball) March 7, 2026
THE BATS
- Martinez and Lipsey led the offense with two hits and three RBI each.
- Nick Romano singled and doubled as part of a 2-for-5 night.
- Gramesty now has three straight multi-RBI games.
THE ARMS
- Litman set new career highs in innings pitched (7.0) and strikeouts (10).
- The sophomore allowed one earned run on six hits. He did not issue any walks and improved his W/L to 3-1.
WHAT'S NEXT
Game two is set for a 6 p.m. first pitch on Saturday night in Miami. The series returns to the FAU Baseball Stadium for the finale on Sunday at noon.
Players Mentioned
OF
/ Baseball
C
/ Baseball
OF
/ Baseball
RHP
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INF
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INF
/ Baseball
INF
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