FAU opened up its conference schedule without one of its most productive hitters (outfielder Alex Hudak is sidelined with an ankle injury), but the pitching staff picked up the slack.

Pitcher Ryan Garton had eight strikeouts in seven scoreless innings as FAU defeated FIU 5-1 at FIU Baseball Stadium. The Owls (12-7) have now won two straight and four of its last six games.

Garton has a 4-1 record for the season. He did not allow an FIU player past second base in his time on the mound.

Relief pitcher R.J. Alvarez closed out the final two innings with five strikeouts, while giving up a run in the ninth inning off a solo homer from FIU catcher Aramis Garcia.

It was a scoreless game until FAU junior outfielder Corey Keller blasted a home run to left field as the Owls took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth inning.  FAU added a pair of runs in the next inning off of hits by Mitch Morales, Geoff Jimenez and Mike Albaladejo to stretch the lead to 3-0.

The Owls had more than double twice the amount of hits as the Panthers (11-5). Morales went 3 for 4. Kyle Newton, Keller, and Albaladejo all had two hits.

FAU plays FIU on Saturday, March 17, at 6:00 p.m.