In search of a bounce back, FAU (23-9, 5-4 AAC) traveled to East Carolina (20-13, 6-3 AAC) looking for a series win over the AAC powerhouse. Instead, Florida Atlantic earned more than that, earning the series sweep and embarrassing the Pirates in front of their home crowd. The Owls have made their claim as a top contender in the American Conference.
Game One
The way the series started for FAU was a good omen for the weekend. Florida Atlantic’s Marshall Lipsey took the first pitch of the evening yard. ECU responded with a run in each of the first three innings. Pirates led 3-1 after three.
In the fourth, the offense picked up once more for the Owls as a three RBI shot from Lipsey gave FAU the lead once more at 4-3. Following that, Patrick Ward sent another ball flying as Florida Atlantic hit back-to-back homers to swing momentum in the favor of the Owls.
After a scoreless fifth, a Jake Duer single in the sixth plated another run. FAU led 6-3 after six.
Finally, ECU scored a run in the eight, and another in the ninth, but MJ Bollinger held on to earn another save on the season as the Owls won 6-5.
Starter Trey Beard was not his vintage self although he struck out eight. He pitched 7 innings, allowing four runs, five hits, and walked three batters. He did earn the win.
Game Two
The Owls took over the Pirates ship in game two. As a team, FAU hit for the cycle in the first as the Owls led 4-0 after one inning. East Carolina scored one in the second, but that was the only scoring ECU had as Florida Atlantic entered the third with a 4-1 advantage.
In the third, John Schroeder gave a ball a ride as he put up a three-run round tripper on the board, giving Florida Atlantic a 7-1 lead.
The remainder of the game stayed in favor of FAU with the Owls plating five in the fifth, one in the sixth, and another in the seventh. The Owls won 14-1 in seven-innings.
The game was the first time the Pirates had been swept in Clark-LeClair Stadium’s history (2005).
SP Tyler Murphy pitched a complete game, allowing only one run, three hits, and he struck out two. It was the first complete-game of his career, and he only allowed an opponent BA of .120.
Game Three
Jake Millan opened the scoring in the second thanks to a 2RBI home run. The Pirates then responded with four runs in the bottom half of the second as FAU trailed 4-2.
Although both offenses scored, Florida Atlantic only trailed by two entering the seventh.
There, Jake Duer and Ayden Garcia scored two as FAU evened the contest at six. Following the eighth, Brando Leroux led off the eighth with a solo shot, giving the Owls a 7-6 lead. As insurance, Leroux plated another run in the ninth as FAU went on to win and clinch the series sweep, 8-6.
SP James Litman pitched only one inning, but the Florida Atlantic bullpen held down the diamond for the remainder of the contest. Zach Kilby pitched four innings allowing only one run and he struck out four. MJ Bollinger earned another save as well.
It was the first time since 2018 that ECU had been swept at home.
FAU Offensive Series Notables
The bats put up a SLG% of .644 against ECU. For comparison, FAU was slugging .472 entering the series. Secondly, Florida Atlantic had nine players earn at least one RBI in the series. The bounce back is just what the Owls needed heading into the heart of AAC play.
Jake & Jake
Jake Duer and Jake Millan combined for 10 RBI in the series as the duo had five RBI each.
Millan had more than just the RBIs as the Senior posted a .308 BA, 2 doubles and a home run.
Duer, on the other hand, had a .429 BA, posted 2 doubles, hit a home run, and earned a four-hit night on Saturday, his second on the season.
Finally, Marshall Lipsey’s Friday night performance was arguably the jump start the Owls needed for the weekend. His four RBIs and two home runs set the tone for how the Florida Atlantic offense played the remainder of the series.
FAU is now the SLG% leader in the AAC and sit second to UTSA in batting average. Pitching wise, the Owls lead the American in ERA and have allowed the fewest home runs in the conference.
Look Ahead
Florida Atlantic will have the midweek off before Memphis (12-19, 1-8 AAC) comes to Paradise over the weekend. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 PM on Friday, April 11th.