FAU Baseball survived once again, this time defeating the no.1 team in the country, Florida, to force a winner take all matchup later tonight. The game was originally scheduled to take place at 1:07 p.m. but was postponed until 5:45 due to inclement weather.

No. 3 FAU (42-18-1) is one win away from advancing to their second Super Regionals in school history, and first since 2002.

No. 1 Florida (44-18) loses for the first time this regional. They are trying to win their second straight National Championship.

After two scoreless innings the Owls offense came alive in the third inning where the first eight FAU batters reached base.

The first time the bases were loaded David Miranda’s RBI single to left field scored two runs. That was immediately followed by Eric Rivera’s RBI single to left to put FAU up 3-0.

After Lambert was walked Joe Montes RBI single scored two more runs for the Owls, with still no outs.

Jared DeSantolo then singled to load the bases for the third time of the inning but the Owls went down on three straight strikes, unable to add to their 5-0 lead.

In his first start of his career, typical FAU closer Zach Schneider began the game striking out a batter before allowing a double. He stood strong after though striking out the side to end the first and retiring the side in the second.

In the third he left a runner stranded on third, but Florida finally broke through the following inning.

With two outs Blake Reese hit a two-run homer to pull Florida within two.

FAU pushed the lead back out to five in the bottom half of the fourth. First Joe Montes Sac fly and then DeSantolo’s RBI single scored Rivera but Gunnar Lambert was thrown out at home.

In the fifth Florida cut into FAU’s lead off an RBI single to make it 7-3.

They scored on a solo homer in the top of the ninth but failed to score anymore, forcing the elimination game.

After a brief stint from Weston Clemente, Drew Peden closed the game out for the Owls. He struck out four in 3.2 innings, The only hit he allowed was the solo homer in the ninth.

Eight of the nine Owls starters recorded a hit.

Wilson and DeSantolo both had three hits apiece.

Wilson also scored a run while DeSantolo batted in one.

In his longest career outing Schneider earned his seventh win of the season, throwing 100 total pitches. He allowed three runs, and six hits in five innings. He also struck out five.

First pitch of the double header is scheduled for later tonight at 9:45 p.m

Matt Brown is a co-sports editor with the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him @mattyb407.