The 2025 Division I college baseball season got underway this weekend and with that, the FAU Owls welcomed in the Delaware Blue Hens for a three game set in Paradise. The Owls delivered on both sides of the field this weekend, sweeping the Blue Hens and outsourcing them 35-5 across the entire series.
Game one saw Owls Sophomore Trey Beard get his first Friday start of the 2025 season. Beard lived up to the hype completely, dominating Delaware in the four innings he pitched. Across those four innings, Beard struck out 10 while giving up only three hits, and two earned runs. The walks being a concern last season with a 4.8 BB/9 rate, Beard only allowed one walk his entire outing. A very promising start from the Owls ace.
On the offensive end, Ayden Garcia had himself a phenomenal night at the plate, recording two hits, one being a grand slam, four RBI, and two runs scored. Jake Duer also had himself a great season debut, going 4-5 with one run scored, and two RBI. Brando Leroux, Jake Millan, and John Martinez all recorded an RBI for the Owls as well, as they took game one by a score of 9-4.
The Owls kept the success going into Saturday, where Junior right handed pitcher Tyler Murphy went five innings pitched, striking out seven, and only gave up one earned run. The Owls bullpen shutout the Blue Hens for the remainder of the game. Zach Kilby, Nick Wimberly, Kide Adetuyi, and Reilly Witmer finished the game combining for one hit allowed, five strikeouts, and one walk.
While the pitching staff dominated, only giving up one run, the offense did the exact same. The 19 run onslaught was led by Senior Jake Millan, Sophomore Dylan LaPointe, and Freshman two-sport athlete Kyle Boylston. Millan went a perfect 4-4 with a home run and a double for five RBI. LaPointe went 2-4 with a home run and four RBI. Boylston went 4-5 with two doubles, and four RBI.
Joey Slattery, Emilio Gonzalez, Patrick Ward, and Danny Baez all had fantastic days at the plate as well. The four combined for seven hits and five RBI, four of those hits coming from Patrick Ward. The Owls took game two 19-1, and took the series in the first two games with ease.
The Owls came into Sunday afternoon’s series finale with Freshman James Litman on the mound. It was the first start for the Boca Raton native, and he held his own going 3.2 innings pitched, with four strikeouts, three walks, and four hits allowed. Braden Ostrander, Carter Holjes, Joey Abbazia, Dawson Ball, and Ryan Buckler finished the game for FAU, completing the shutout, and combining for five strikeouts.
The offense didn’t fall flat after the first two games. They went out and scored seven in the series finale, led by Redshirt-Freshman John Martinez. He went 1-3 on the day with a double and three RBI. Jake Millan and Kyle Boylston continued their success from Saturday, each tallying another RBI, and a pair of hits. Jake Duer and Nick Romano also recorded an RBI each in the 7-0 win.
Opening weekend couldn’t have been better for the Owls. They’ll look to carry this success over into Tuesday’s midweek matchup, where they’ll host a 3-0 Miami team coming off of an opening series sweep against Niagara. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at FAU Baseball Stadium.