Owls Take Down USF for McCormack’s 600th Win

Friday, May 1

Tampa, Fla.

6:30 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

23-22, 9-10

USF

28-17, 7-12

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
FAU	4	3	2	0	2	1	0	0	0	12	10	1
South Florida	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	5	9	13	1

5/1/2026 11:25:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

TAMPA, Fla. – Florida Atlantic baseball (23-22, 9-10) took the series opener from host South Florida (28-17, 7-12) on Friday night in Tampa by a 12-9 final. The victory is the 600th career win for Owls' Head Coach John McCormack.

THE BEGINNING
The Owls stormed out of the gates for three runs in the first inning. After two walks and a hit-by-pitch, Ian Collier flared a base hit to shallow right field to open the scoring. John Martinez followed with a two-RBI single that narrowly stayed fair down the left field line. A sacrifice fly by Brando Leroux later in the frame made it 4-0.

Another three runs crossed the plate in the second inning to build the lead out to a touchdown and an extra point. Michael Perazza singled home Marshall Lipsey before Collier and Martinez recorded back-to-back sac flies to put the visitors up 7-0.

THE TURNING POINT
USF chipped away and cut the Owls' lead down to 9-4 in the fourth inning. They nearly made it 9-5, but Perazza robbed the Bulls' Ryan Pruitt of an extra-base hit with a diving catch to end the frame.

Michael Perazza!!! What a catch!!!

cc: @American_Conf #TopPlays pic.twitter.com/3t8yzIFwi7
— Florida Atlantic Baseball (@FAUBaseball) May 2, 2026

After his highlight reel play in the field, Perazza went to work on offense in the top of the fifth. His fourth home run of the season, a two-run shot, restored the Owls' seven-run lead at 11-4.

THE FINISH
The Owls led 12-4 going to the bottom of the ninth. USF didn't go quietly, though. The Bulls scored five runs on four hits before Carson Kimball put the final nail in the coffin with a game-ending strikeout.

QUOTABLE
Head Coach John McCormack

Postgame with @FAUCoachMac after the Owls down USF for win number 600 #WIP🏝️ pic.twitter.com/gBhBahpkFc
— Florida Atlantic Baseball (@FAUBaseball) May 2, 2026

THE BATS

Perazza (4), Collier (3), and Martinez (3) combined to drive in 10 of the Owls' 12 runs.
Perazza finished the night 2-for-3 at the plate with three runs scored.
Nick Romano also had two hits and scored two runs.

THE ARMS

James Litman completed seven innings to earn his eighth win of the season.
The sophomore leads the American Conference in wins.
Litman struck out four and allowed four runs on eight hits.

WHAT'S NEXT
The Owls will go for the series win on Saturday. Game time has been moved up to noon to avoid forecasted late afternoon weather.

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