By: Tobey Schulman
Final Score: FAU – 12, UTSA – 5
After suffering a run-rule loss to Tulane in their opening game of the AAC tournament, FAU looked to keep their season alive against UTSA. It would be the fourth time in five games that the two teams would face off. The Owls bats would break out of a huge slump, and would upset the Roadrunners to end their chances of a conference title.
This would be a close game through the first four innings with multiple lead changes. FAU would get out to an early 1-0 lead off of a Christian Adams double that scored Daulton Frank. Caleb Hill would follow that up with a home run for the Roadrunners to even the game at 1-1. UTSA would get two more in the second, one from a Whitt Joyce single, and another from Caleb Hill. UTSA now had a 3-1 lead, but this wouldn’t last long as FAU broke the score wide open with a six-spot in the fourth.
Spencer Rich tied the game up at 3-3 with a two-run single. Daulton Frank would reach on a fielder’s choice, which brought in the go-ahead run. The Owls offense would drive in another three runs in the fourth inning, two from a John Schroeder double, and an RBI single from Christian Adams.
The Owls tallied another three runs in the seventh. Two RBI singles from Jalen DeBose and Patrick Ward, along with a sacrifice fly out from Brando Leroux gave the Owls a 10-3 lead. The seventh inning would also feature a collision at second base after Christian Adams looked to advance to third, running into Diego Diaz standing in the way of second base.
Conor Myles and UTSA seemed to take offense to the collision enough to throw at Adams in his next at bat in the eighth. The first pitch of the at bat sailing over Adams head, the second high and inside, and the third hitting him square in his lower back. Myles would be ejected after being warned by the home plate umpire after his second missed attempt at Adams.
The Roadrunners would add two more runs in an attempt to keep their season alive in the eighth, but the Owls offense would add two more runs in the ninth to seal the win. Brando Leroux would record a home run, and an error would allow Andrew McKenna to score the Owls 12th run.
While the offense broke out for 18 hits in the win, the real MVP of this game for FAU was Trey Beard. The freshman left-hander has been absolutely incredible for the Owls down the stretch of this season, and when they needed him most he came through. While he’d allow three runs in his outing, he went five innings-pitched, giving his pitching staff some much needed rest. Beard walked none as well and struck out four.
The Owls now will play in game 10 of the AAC Baseball Championship against Charlotte. Fresh off of a loss to Tulane, the winner of this game will have to again face the Green Wave. The Owls will turn the ball to Brandon Smith for the start.