Jake Meiers recorded the win going five innings, allowing five hits, and giving up two earned runs.
The Owls’ bullpen threw three innings of shutout baseball, but needed some last second heroics from senior closer Hugh Adams, who missed all of last year, to win the game.
In the top of the ninth inning the Owls were leading 7-2 before senior reliever Gregg Bennis gave up a three-run home run to pinch hitter Brendon Neel. With the game in question, Owls coach John McCormack went to Adams to secure the final two outs.
Because FAU had led comfortably, Adams believed he would not see the field, but was happy to contribute to a win and record the save.
“I didn’t think it was going to happen like that but it was nice to be out there,” Adams said.
The Bearcats were able to take the lead 2-1 in the top of the third, but the Owls responded quickly in the bottom of the third.
With a bit of small ball and extra-base hits from junior catcher Levi Meyer and senior outfielder Corey Keller, the Owls were able to bat around with four hits and five runs to break the game open in the fourth inning.
A leadoff double by Keller followed by an RBI single by sophomore infielder Ricky Santiago was the first combination to get the inning started.
The Owls were able to score four more runs with two being unearned due to fielding errors.
Cincinnati failed to close the gap in the top of the fifth with the bases loaded as Meiers was able to get Matt Williams to fly out to end the inning.
Keller, who finished the game with two hits and a run scored, never thought for a second the game was in jeopardy.
“I wasn’t nervous with Hugh coming out of the pen,” Keller said.
In the two games today, the Owls compiled 25 hits, a driving force behind their successful start to the season.
“25 hits is a lot,” said Keller. “We knew coming into the season we were going to have a good hitting team, but when you score one that’s how you know you’re hitting well.”
The Owls will attempt to sweep the season-opening series against Cincinnati on Sunday, Feb. 17 at 12 p.m.
