Owls fall in C-USA tournament opener to Rice
Florida Atlantic’s baseball season has been pushed to the brink.
In the Conference USA tournament opener, FAU lost to Rice 5-3, handing it an early defeat in the doublet-ournament in Biloxi, Miss. With the loss, FAU dropped into the loser’s bracket and will face FIU today at 10 a.m.
To win the tournament, the Owls must win five consecutive games in the next four days. They likely need to win the conference title to earn a bid to the NCAA tournament. FAU swept FIU this season.
FAU (33-20-1, 18-12 Conference USA) mustered only four hits off Rice righthander Matt Canterino in his 7 2⁄3 innings, but three were solo home runs. Esteban Puerta, Tyler Frank and Stephen Kerr’s home runs accounted for FAU’s only runs.
Canterino baffled the Owls’ lineup, striking out 11 and retiring 17 of the last 20 batters he faced. FAU only had three at-bats with runners in scoring position against the freshman and Eric Rivera was the only Owl to reach base multiple times against him.
Rice (28-29, 16-14) pounced on FAU starter Kyle Marman early to score two first-inning runs. Ford Proctor doubled to lead off the game and scored on a groundout before Tristan Gray launched a solo home run.
Marman, making just his second start of the season, lasted five innings, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks. He struck out one and threw 87 pitches.
“We have to swing the bats better,” FAU coach John McCormack said. “I thought we pitched well and our defense was good. We just have to swing the bats better. At one point, we ran 18 or 19 0-2 counts, and that is really hard to hit. We need to be a little bit more aggressive.”
FAU used four pitchers Wednesday morning, but stayed away from righthander Alex House. House, typically the Owls’ No. 1 starter, figures to draw the start in today’s elimination game. He owns a 4.98 ERA in 15 appearances this season.
Four Owls were honored Tuesday with Conference USA accolades, led by shortstop Tyler Frank, who was named first-team all-conference. Jared Shouppe (designated hitter) and Cameron Ragsdale (relief pitcher) were each named to the second team. Outfielder Eric Rivera was placed on the All-Freshman team.