FAU began the game Sunday looking for payback after dropping the first two games of their road series against the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and the Owls scored six runs in the first inning.
In the previous two games of this weekend series, FAU only scored a total of three runs against the Trojans.
The game started out with Mike Albaladejo being hit by Trojan starting pitcher Cameron Allen. Corey Keller would also be hit by a pitch in the first inning of the game. Trojan pitcher Cameron Allen would be pulled in the first inning after allowing six earned runs on three hits, while walking two batters and hitting an additional two.
FAU was in command of the game with a 6-0 lead until the bottom of the fourth inning. The Trojans were able to score eight runs in the inning and take a two run lead over the Owls. FAU’s starting pitcher Austin Gomber walked Trojan catcher Blake Johnson, then proceeded to throw a wild pitch that allowed Johnson to advance to second. Gomber then gave up an RBI single to Trojan first baseman John Clark.
The next batter, designated hitter Greg Garcia, stepped to the plate with one man on against Gomber. Garcia belted an RBI double down the right field line on the first pitch from Gomber.
After giving up another walk and an RBI single to the next two batters, starting pitcher Austin Gomber was taken out of the game for junior right hander Michael Sylvestri in the fourth inning.
Sylvestri would not fare much better against the Trojans as he would give up a walk to the first batter he faced and load the bases. The next Trojan batter Sylvestri would face was left fielder Sean Bignall. He would hit a bases clearing single up the middle, bringing in 3 RBIs to tie up the game at six runs apiece. The next batter, third baseman Nick Rountree, would hit a two run homer over the right field fence to give the Trojans an 8-6 lead over FAU.
It would not be long before FAU would regain the lead. In the top of the sixth inning, Owls left fielder Dylan Seigel singled, bringing up center fielder Nathan Pittman. Pittman would tie up the game at 8-8 by sending a 3-2 pitch into the right field stands.
Owls first baseman Mark Nelson would start off the top of the seventh inning with a single up the middle. Next, Corey Keller would walk, giving FAU runners on first and second with no outs. Owls second baseman Ricky Santiago would advance the runners to second and third by grounding out. The next run would be scored by an RBI sacrifice fly to right field by Pittman. At the end of the seventh inning FAU would have a two run lead over the Trojans by a score of 10-8.
The Owls would tack on an extra two runs in the ninth inning to take a commanding 12-8 lead in the game. Aside from the eight runs scored by the Trojans in the bottom of the fourth inning the Owls pitchers would not give up another run for the rest of the game.
The winning pitcher for FAU was reliever Michael Sylvestri. Sylvestri pitched 3.1 innings giving up three earned runs on three hits, the win bringing his record to 1-2 on the season with a 4.45 ERA.
FAU reliever R.J. Alvarez was brought on in the eighth inning, earning his eighth save of the season. The win on Sunday brings the Owls record to 29-20 on the season, and gives the team a one game lead in the Sun Belt Conference over Arkansas State.
The Owls will begin a three game home series on May 17 against FIU.
