By: Tobey Schulman
The FAU Owls took on in-state opponent UCF Tuesday night, as the 5-0 Golden Knights looked to win their sixth straight game and keep their undefeated record. The Owls too would be looking to keep their three game win streak going, but UCF had different plans for the Owls.
FAU jumped in front early off of John Schroeder’s fifth double of the year, driving in Spencer Rich to make it a 1-0 game in the first. The Golden Knights would respond with a run of their own off of an RBI single from shortstop Mikey Kluska. Braden Ostrander would give up two more runs in the third inning, off of Andrew Sundean’s fourth double of the season. Ostrander’s night would end with a stat-line of 2.0 innings pitched, three strikeouts, giving up six hits, and five earned runs.
UCF would continue to pile on the runs in the third, putting up seven runs in the top half of the inning. The Owls staff would keep the runs limited again until the sixth, but couldn’t get anything going offensively. Cade Boxrucker pitched an incredible game, going 5.0 innings, allowing two hits, and striking out six while only giving up one run. The Owls seemed to have no answers for Boxrucker as he settled in and gave up no hits after the first.
The Owls would continue to put balls in play, but just couldn’t find the gaps for hits. However, FAU got some of their young guys in the game and they tried their best to spark the rest of the lineup. Freshman Dylan LaPointe hit his first collegiate home run of his career while sophomore Patrick Ward followed it up with a double of his own.
Although the Owls tried to put together a late rally, scoring four in the bottom of the ninth off of a Carter Brady two RBI single and a two run home run from Jake Millan, it wasn’t enough. However, the Owls ability to put together some runs at the end of the game can be a positive take away from tonight.
“It was really nice to see Carter Brady have a positive at bat, he’s had a couple rough ones, and of course Jake hitting the home run … you never want to see these types of games just roll out, it was good to see these guys in the dugout stayed in it,” Coach McCormack said post-game regarding the late rally.
The Golden Knights prior to the game this week earned votes to be put in the AP Top 25 and adding this game to their resume certainly helps their case. They come out of Boca Raton keeping their undefeated record improving to 6-0. FAU will turn their attention to UNF, who come to FAU Baseball Stadium Wednesday. The Owls look to dial the bats back in and put this loss behind them.
