By: Tobey Schulman
FAU looked to start off the new month of March with a win. They opened up their three game series with Stonehill Friday night, in hopes to bounce back from their last couple games and get some wins back. The Owls turned to right hander C.J. Williams who would look to earn his second win of the season.
FAU would get the bats going right away in the first frame. Spencer Rich got on base with a single to start the inning, and Andrew McKenna and Emilio Gonzalez each had an RBI single to give the Owls an early 2-0 lead. John Schroeder would also record a single in the first, and the Owls bats looked to be heating up early.
C.J. Williams went through the beginning of his start quickly and efficiently yet again. Despite a fourth inning rain delay, he came back out of the delay rolling through the Stonehill lineup. Stonehill starting pitcher Ryan Douglas would also start to settle in and denied FAU of any runs after his first inning of work. Douglas finished the night pitching six innings, giving up eight hits, two runs, and striking out two.
In the top half of the sixth however, Stonehill would start to hit Williams more. They threatened with two runners in scoring position, but Williams would ultimately work his way out of the jam to keep the shutout going.
Andrew McKenna and John Schroeder would continue their solid nights at the plate adding another single to both of their resumes in the bottom half of the sixth. However, Stonehill would battle back to strand the runners and keep the score at 2-0.
Williams came back into the game in the seventh inning looking to make it back to back seven inning performances for him. Williams opened up the seventh with back to back strikeouts, but an error from John Schroeder in right field gave Stonehill another runner in scoring position. Williams would pitch to a flyout and again, work his way out of the inning. Williams would be done after that, posting a final stat-line of 7.0 innings pitched, nine strikeouts, four hits, and no runs given up.
In the bottom half of the seventh, the Owls looked to add some insurance runs. The Owls would load the bases bringing up Andrew McKenna. McKenna would hit a high pop fly, just in front of home plate where Stonehill catcher Aidan Sengenberger would lose the ball on its descent, allowing two runs to score, and McKenna to reach first on an error. John Schroeder would come up again and record another RBI single, making it a 5-0 game. Carter Brady also continued his hot offensive streak, as he hit another home run to add another run making it a 6-0 game.
Steven Andrews came out of the bullpen and shutout Stonehill for the remainder of the game. He went 2.0 innings, with three strikeouts, and no hits allowed. C.J. Williams put up a much needed performance for this FAU pitching staff. He’s now struck out fifteen across his last fourteen innings pitched, while allowing only one run.
After their two games earlier this week, this game was a great all around performance from the Owls. They hit the ball hard all game and pitched phenomenally, working out of jams when it was needed and getting ahead of the count all game.
The Owls look to go for the series win in game two on Saturday, with Trey Beard on the mound.
