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The lack of timely hitting, a problem that’s plagued FAU early this season, prevented the Owls from upsetting No. 1 Florida in Gainesville on Tuesday.
FAU out hit Florida 7-6 but fell to the Gators 6-1 – the Owls’ first loss of the season.
“That’s a very good baseball team that we played tonight,” FAU coach John McCormack said. “We can’t give them extra outs, and we have to capitalize when we have opportunities.”
Trailing 4-0 in the sixth, the Owls loaded the bases with only one out and Sunday’s walk-off hero Diamond Johnson at the plate. Johnson sent a slow bouncing ball to the first base side of the mound, leaving Gators pitcher Andrew Baker with only one play – a toss to first.
Johnson was out on the play but Gunnar Lambert scored. One batter later, Joe Montes grounded out to second to end the threat.
Florida put the game away in the seventh when Wil Dalton’s bases-loaded single drove in two runs, providing the Gators margin of victory.
FAU stranded nine runners on base.
GameBrowser: No. 1 Florida (4-0) 6, FAU (3-1) 1
Moving Forward: With two hits, catcher Pedro Pages enjoyed the only multi-hit game of the night for FAU. …Reliever Jordan Poore worked 1 2/3 scoreless innings in his first appearance of the season. …Marc Stewart struck out one in a perfect eighth inning.
Sliding Backward: Mark Nowatnick walked three of the four batters he faced and was charged with two earned runs in only one-third of an inning. …Entering with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh, Drew Peden surrendered a two out single. …Tyler Frank’s tough start to the season continued on Tuesday. He went hitless in four at-bats, striking out twice. …Nick Prather allowed three runs in 3 1/3 innings, taking the loss in his first FAU start.
Key Stat: 8– walks issued by FAU pitchers.
Up Next: FAU returns home for a weekend series against Delaware. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
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