BOCA RATON – Minutes after tossing eight innings of one run ball on Sunday to propel FAU to a sweep of rival FIU, Jake Miednik’s demeanor seemed less that of exuberant winning pitcher and more like an undersized, insulted bar patron intent on starting a fight.
It had been a while since Miednik enjoyed that level of success – and anger.
“I pitched a little more angry, like the old Jake Miednik,” Miednik said.
The source of the anger? A “wake-up call” Miednik said he received in the days leading up to that start.
Miednik opened the season looking like he would blossom into the staff ace. Struggles as the season progressed, however, caused his ERA to soar above 5.0, prompting FAU coach John McCormack to consider removing Miednik from the weekend rotation altogether.
The 5-foot-10, 175-pound junior lefty didn’t know with certainty that he would start on Sunday until the day prior.
Miednik carried the the anger fueled by uncertainty over to Sunday’s game, channeling it into sharp breaking balls and fastballs that touched 93 mph.
It turns out, opposing batters may not like Miednik when he’s angry.
For a staff still looking for an ace, McCormack believes – even this late into the season – Miednik, last seasons JUCO Pitcher of the Year, could still develop into that pitcher.
“Jake is the closest thing to it,” McCormack said. “We’ve got to keep giving him chances to see that come out.”
Miednik will have to find another source for his motivational anger this week when FAU travels to No. 20 Southern Miss for a showdown with Conference USA title and NCAA Tournament implications.
He was already scheduled to pitch on Sunday even before the Owls learned that likely Saturday starter Mark Nowatnick would miss at least a couple weeks because of a cracked bone in his left foot sustained during the post-game celebration of Saturday’s FAU walk-off win over FIU.
As the Owls prepared for their trip to Hattiesburg, McCormack had yet to decide whether Blake Sanderson would follow Nowatnick’s path and move from the bullpen to the weekend rotation. That would likely depend on whether the Owls need Sanderson out of the bullpen on Friday.
Marc Stewart or potentially Sean Labsan could also get the ball on Saturday.
FAU heads to the Magnolia State having tied a season-high with its five-game winning streak – a stretch that immediately followed their season-long four-game losing streak. Tied with Old Dominion for second place in C-USA, the Owls are one game behind Southern Miss.
“I feel like, as a team, we’re clicking right now at the right moment.” Miednik said.
Leave a Reply