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PHOTO GALLERY: FAU vs UNF Series
BOCA RATON – FAU posted double-digit runs for the fourth consecutive game yet still had to hang on to defeat North Florida 10-9.
FAU hit four more homers on Wednesday, bringing its two-game series total to 10 in a sweep of the Ospreys.
“It’s a combination of their pitching our hitting,” FAU coach John McCormack said. “It was a really good two days to hit at this park. You don’t see the wind blowing to left field like this on a two day basis.”
The Owls led 10-5 heading into the ninth before struggling to record the final three outs. Weston Clemente started the inning, but walked two and allowed a single before being pulled with one out in the inning.
Drew Peden entered and only threw one pitch, a fastball, that Alex Hendricks belted for a grand slam, bringing UNF within one.
Enter closer Zach Schneider, who put the potential tying and winning runs on base via a walk and a hit before finally closing the door.
“That was really bad relief pitching,” FAU coach John McCormack said. “Really bad. Really bad.”
FAU trailed 4-0 before erupting for seven runs in the fifth. Kevin Abraham’s first home run of the season – a three-run blast – keyed the outburst.
GameBrowser: FAU (13-4) 10, North Florida (8-11) 9
Moving Forward: Tyler Frank pushed his hitting streak to 10 games with a solo home run. …Joe Montes hit his first FAU home run, part of a two-hit afternoon during which he drove in three. …Pedro Pages went 4-for-5. …Cody Wilson blasted a two-run homer, part of a two-hit day. …Reliever Mark Nowatnick didn’t allow a run and only surrendered one hit in 3 2/3 innings of relief. Could Nowatnick be working his way into the closer’s role?
Sliding Backward: Starter Nick Prather struggled with his control and didn’t get out of the third inning. Three of the four runs he allowed were earned and he only threw 32 of his 61 pitches for strikes. …Drew Peden was on the mound for one pitch. Four runs scored on that pitch. …David Miranda struck out twice as part of an 0-for-3 afternoon. …Only seven of Weston Clemente’s 17 pitches were strikes.
Key Stat: 12 – wins at home in 12 games for FAU this season.
Up Next: FAU begins Conference USA play on Friday with a trip to Old Dominion. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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