Just one day after FAU lost in the championship round of the Conference USA tournament, the Owls found out their fate for the NCAA baseball tournament: a No. 2 seed, and a battle with Florida State in the Athens Regionals.

This is not an uncommon occurrence for the Owls, as they’ve made four NCAA tournament appearances in the past five years.

FAU clinched the No. 2 seed in the tournament after once again winning 40 games — 22 of which in conference play — and winning the regular season title. Not to mention the fact that the Owls had significant road victories against Florida, Miami and UCF.

However, making the tournament was in question for the Owls after they were shutout by Southern Miss in the C-USA championship game. But, as the tournament berth suggests, the many positives on their résumé outweighed the negative.

Other teams in the Athens Regional are the No. 1-seeded Georgia Bulldogs, who are hosting the games, No.3-seeded FSU and No. 4 Mercer. For the Seminoles, they were more uncertain about their spot in the NCAA tournament, as they had an a mere 36-21 record.

The Owls faced Florida last year in the Gainesville Regional, beating them before losing in the final of the tournament.

FAU opens the series against FSU in Athens, Ga., on May 31 at noon (ESPN3). Blake Sanderson will start for the Owls, owning a 8-2 record with an 3.93 ERA. While it’s not definite yet, Mike Ruff should take the mound in the second game. Ruff is coming an 11-strikeout Conference USA tournament appearance against Western Kentucky.

As coach John McCormack and the Owls strive to a possible National Championship, the University Press will have full coverage of their play in the NCAA baseball tournament.

Zachary Weinberger is the sports editor of the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him @ZachWeinberger