Trailing by one run at the top of the ninth inning, Florida Atlantic sophomore right fielder Jose Bonilla Traverso stepped up to the plate with two outs. He laced the game-tying single to left field, pushing the No. 16 Owls into their third extra-inning game in their last five games.

FAU (23-7) would go on to play two more innings before a single from Florida Gulf Coast University (16-17) sophomore left fielder Zach Spivey brought home sophomore center fielder Gage Morey for the game-winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning, as the Owls fell 3-2.

According to FAU Sport’s radio broadcast, FAU sophomore catcher Gunnar Lambert appeared to have made the tag at home plate, but in a controversial fashion the officiating crew called the runner safe to end the game.

It marked FAU’s second straight loss, and third loss in its last four games.

Sophomore pitcher David McKay started the game on the mound for FAU and pitched seven innings. He struck out six batters while only allowing one run on five hits.

His pitching duties were shared with four other Owls including senior Devon Carr, junior Colyn O’Connell, freshman Nick Swan and sophomore Alex House, who combined to allow two runs on six hits.

FGCU sophomore Mario Leon also pitched seven innings before being relieved by freshman Cory Weiand, junior Garrett Anderson and senior closer Clint Knoblauch.

With the exception of FGCU’s eventual game-winner in the eleventh, the Owls were able to respond to each of FGCU’s runs in their next at-bat, but were never able to capture the lead.

FAU will travel to West Virginia for an upcoming three-game series against the Marshall University Thundering Herd that begins on Friday, April 15, at 6 p.m.

Christopher Libreros is a contributing writer with the University Press. To contact him on this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him @ChrisIsAirborne.