By: Tobey Schulman
FAU entered their regular season finale at home on Saturday looking to avoid being swept by the UTSA Roadrunners. After losing by run-rule in game one, and in heartbreaking extra inning fashion in game two, the Owls grinded out a game three win that secured them a spot in the AAC tournament in Clearwater.
UTSA stayed true to a trend they followed all series long. For the third straight game the Roadrunner bats would get to the starter early tallying four hits and recording two runs during Brandon Smith’s start for the Owls. After a series of RBI singles for the Roadrunners, FAU would be down 4-0 after the top of the third inning.Â
The Owls bats would respond with a three-spot in the bottom half of the third. Back to back walks to Andrew McKenna and Brando Leroux would plate two runners for FAU, and a Spencer Rich single scored Jake Millan to make it a 4-3 game through three innings. Rich would come up big for the Owls again in the fifth, reaching on a fielder’s choice to score the game tying run.Â
The FAU bullpen would leave it all out on the field in their final home game of the season. Sam Drumheller, Tyler Murphy, Steven Andrews, and Danny Trehey all put together scoreless pitching performances that gave FAU everything they needed to be able to take the series finale. Steven Andrews would be credited with the win out of the Owls bullpen.
In the eighth it was Daulton Frank for the Owls who would come through with the game winning hit. Frank hit a two-run home run to give FAU a 6-4 lead. A great story for a player who’s truly had a battle with injuries his whole career with the Owls.Â
FAU secured their spot in the AAC tournament in Clearwater with this win over UTSA. They’ll play the three seeded Tulane in Game 4 on ESPN+. Although finishing their regular season under .500 with a 26-27 record, the Owls managed the six seed in the conference tournament and now control their destiny to a possible regional berth.Â