The No. 2 seeded (and Sun Belt tourney champion) Owls began NCAA Regional Tournament play in Chapel Hill, N.C., on Friday afternoon against No. 3 seed Towson.
Unfortunately for FAU (39-21), it didn’t go as planned, as they were handily defeated by Towson 7-2, ending their 11-game winning streak.
For the most part, the Owls’ offense was largely nonexistent, mustering a mere four hits through eight innings.
Two of those hits came in the second inning, when FAU wasted its best chance to make an offensive mark in the game. With outfielders Geoff Jimenez and Nathan Pittman both in scoring position, the Owls left them stranded, keeping the game tied at 0-0.
“We got our pitches, just couldn’t take advantage, couldn’t score,” said Pittman, who finished hitless.
The sixth inning would be the deciding frame for FAU, as Towson blew the contest open with five runs on six hits.
Owls starter Jeremy Strawn had allowed three earned runs on seven hits, three for extra bases, before he would be replaced.
Kevin Alexander came in to relieve Strawn, but didn’t fare much better, watching a fastball get belted to centerfield by Towson catcher Andrew Parker. The three-run homer increased the FAU’s deficit to 6-0, all but cementing defeat.
The Owls also had trouble with Towson baserunners today. Catcher Levi Meyer watched six steal attempts, but could only throw out one. Meyer had a better day on offense, as he was the only FAU batter to record more than one hit (2-for-4) versus Towson pitching.
In a rallying effort, FAU outfielder Tyler Rocklein found himself in an eighth inning, bases loaded, no out situation against Towson relief pitcher Kyle Paul. Before Rocklein’s at-bat would end, Mark Nelson was gunned down attempting a wide lead from first base.
Rocklein did eventually hit a hard grounder to left field, plating the Owls’ first run of the game. Right fielder Corey Keller followed that up with a two-out RBI double, bringing the score to 7-2 in the eighth inning.
The Owls’ eighth inning semi-surge would prove too little too late, as Towson maintained its stronghold.
Through the first three innings, FAU managed to drive up the pitch count of Towson starter Mike Volpe, forcing him to throw 67 pitches. After those three innings, though, the Owls struggled mightily from the plate.
FAU continues Regional Tournament play against Canisius on Saturday, June 1. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m.
