Florida Atlantic baseball’s pitching unit allowed a combined 15 runs in the first two games, but shut out the University of Texas at San Antonio on Sunday to avoid a sweep over the weekend in Texas.

The tough pitching in the first two games sent the Owls (25-13-1) to 12-6 in Conference USA, tied for second in the conference standings.

Here’s a recap of each game:

Game one: FAU 6, UTSA 9

Sophomore Tyler Frank homered to left field to lead off the game, but consecutive four-run innings by the Roadrunners in the second and third gave the home team an 8-1 lead.

FAU scored in three straight innings to cut the deficit to 8-6 in the top of the seventh. But after the scoring frames, the Owls’ bats were shut down by the last UTSA (20-18, 9-9 Conference USA) pitcher, Tyler Giovanoni, for the series-opening win.

Junior starting pitcher Alex House settled down to retire nine straight hitters from the third to the sixth innings — including two perfect innings.

Frank recorded two hits and scored two runs.

Redshirt junior David Miranda had a two-run triple and senior Stephen Kerr plated him with an RBI single in the Owls three-run fifth.

Game two: FAU 0, UTSA 6

An RBI groundout in the second inning pushed the Roadrunners into the lead, and they added two more runs in the fourth and three in the fifth. Meanwhile, UTSA starting pitcher Nolan Trabanino allowed just one hit up to that point.

A trio of FAU relievers went 3 2/3 combined innings and only one UTSA batter reached base after they plated their final run. But Trabanino matched that, scattering three hits over his last four innings of work, including a perfect ninth to end it.

Game three: FAU 10, UTSA 0

Senior Esteban Puerta started the scoring in the first inning on a two-run double.

The Owls then added four runs in the seventh and two each in the eighth and ninth innings. All eight of the late-inning runs came with two outs, and relievers junior Drew Peden, sophomore Kyle Marman and senior Cameron Ragsdale finished out the shutout.

Junior Mark Nowatnick allowed just four hits and two walks in five-plus innings.

All nine starters plus freshman pinch-hitter Aldrich DeJongh scored a run in the game. Senior Jared Shouppe, Puerta and senior Austin Langham all had two hits in the games.

Hans Belot Jr. is the sports editor of the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him at @Don_Phenom_.