What: Florida Atlantic vs Charlotte
When: April 25th @ 12:05 PM | April 26th @ 4:00 PM | April 27th @ 1:00 PM
Where: Robert and Mariam Hayes Stadium
Video: ESPN+
Stats: Stats Broadcast
FAU – LHP Trey Beard (7-0, 2.78 ERA)
Charlotte – RHP Blake Gillespie (5-3, 3.08 ERA)
FAU – RHP Tyler Murphy (3-2, 4.75 ERA)
Charlotte – RHP Andrew Kribbs (3-1, 3.86 ERA)
FAU – RHP James Litman (3-1, 4.43 ERA)
Charlotte – TBA
Owls Notables
After a sweep over Wichita State the Owls sprung themselves into third in the AAC. Florida Atlantic (27-13, 9-6) is coming off a 17-2 blemish against UCF. There is no need to panic in the FAU Clubhouse though as the Owls earned a win earlier this season against those same Knights.
As a team, the Owls are still second in the conference in batting average at .306. FAU is currently slugging .476 and has an OBP of .411. In many statistical categories, Florida Atlantic is second in the American.
Notably for the upcoming series against Charlotte, FAU is second in home runs, while Charlotte is first. The difference is one home run; the Owl’s have 49, while the 49ers have 50. Offensively speaking, Florida Atlantic can find the timely hits while it seems Charlotte can not.
On the mound, FAU is still leading the conference with a 4.46 earned run average, but holds that advantage by just .01 points. Just like the home run statistic, the Owls and the 49ers share the lowest two ERA numbers in the AAC. The numbers are pointing towards a close series.
The Sunday starter, James Litman had a bounce back start last weekend against the Shockers. After pitching a 7.98 ERA and not earning a win in four starts since the start of AAC play, the Freshman pitcher allowed only three hits and one run in his start last Sunday. As expected, the series could be decided in the third game. If Litman can ride the wave from his last start, the Owls should have the advantage.
On the other hand, two major injuries have hurt Florida Atlantic as Jake Duer and now Pat Ward are out indefinitely. A player stepping into the starting role is Danny Baez. The Junior OF has appeared in 23 games and boasts a .444 OBP. While FAU will be without two starters, the reliance on the rest of the team, and Baez’s ability to be plugged into the starting role, should show no major issues in the outfield.
Since the losses of Duer and Ward, Coach John McCormack has plugged two players into different starting spots. One of those is Millan who has spent time at first base. In Florida Atlantic’s series last weekend, Millan had a 1.000 rate in the field. So expect no major issues from the fielders this weekend.
Projected Starters
C Ayden Garcia/Dylan LaPointe (Alternating Starts)
1B Jake Millan
2B John Martinez
SS Brando Leroux
3B Nick Romano
RF Danny Baez
CF Marshall Lipsey
LF John Schroeder
FAU will next host FIU in hopes of clinching the season series on Tuesday night.
Charlotte Notables
The ‘Niners (23-17, 9-6 AAC) are coming off a series loss to USF. Charlotte and FAU are in similar boats this season, but the 49ers have yet to be swept this year in conference play.
Entering the weekend, both the ‘Niners and the Owls are third in the AAC. Both teams are within one game of second and three games of first.
As a team, Charlotte is slashing .261/.355/.426, seventh in the AAC. While not the most impressive batting wise, their arms are their strong suit.
The 49ers’ pitching staff has allowed only a 4.47 ERA, a conference low 319 hits, and lead the American in strikeouts. In conference play, Charlotte has allowed more than five runs only three times. In all three of those games, the team from the Queen city lost.
Only two batters have an average over .300 on Charlotte’s roster. They are Cody Gunderson (.361) and Dawson Bryce (.310). Gunderson, a junior, has a .491 OB% and has 15 XBH including seven home runs. Bryce leads the 49ers in total bases with 80 as he has 16 XBH. Bryce is one of only three players to have started every game as well.