FAU overcomes early mistakes to sweep MTSU

BOCA RATON — As the ball disappeared over the outfield fence and into the palm trees, the Florida Atlantic Owls breathed a sigh of relief.

Esteban Puerta’s two-run home run in the eighth inning masked an afternoon of missed opportunities and boosted FAU to a 7-6 win over Middle Tennessee State on Sunday.

With Puerta’s home run, FAU swept the opening weekend of Conference USA play and will visit Miami for a midweek matchup on Wednesday night. The Owls (14-5-1, 3-0) have won four consecutive games and nine of their past 10 games. The Blue Raiders (8-11, 0-3) have lost five in a row.

With Stephen Kerr on second base, Puerta launched a 1-2 fastball from Blue Raiders right-hander Tyler Holcombe to left-center field for his fifth homer of the season. Puerta finished the day 3 for 4 with three runs scored and two RBI. He also reached on an error.

“I think I got kind of too big the first swing, and then I had to reel myself in,” Puerta said. “I didn’t think it was gone. It was high and I thought maybe the wind could take it.”

Puerta’s homer run came one batter after Kevin Abraham bunted into a double play. Abraham tried to lay down a sacrifice bunt down the third base line, but Middle Tennessee forced out David Miranda at third base. Abraham, jogging to first with his bat still in hand, was thrown out to stunt the Owls rally.

“In a game like this, we can’t make those mistakes,” Owls coach John McCormack said. “Kevin had a bad bunt, and I guess he felt sorry for himself and didn’t run. It’s inexcusable. But then EP picked us up. It’s nice having those seniors around that have been through it.”

On Sunday, FAU stranded 12 runners as Middle Tennessee gifted it 10 walks. Twice the Owls gave up a one-run lead in the last three innings. Closer Cameron Ragsdale gave up a run for the second consecutive outing but still collected his fifth save.

Ragsdale has given up a run in four of his seven appearances, just one season after posting a sparkling 1.61 ERA with 15 saves.

“He’s not sharp,” McCormack said. “He can’t throw the ball where he wants to throw it.”

The Blue Raiders scored a run in both the seventh and eighth inning to erase narrow leads. Chaz Vesser scored on a throwing error by Owls shortstop Tyler Frank in the seventh that tied the game at four. Kevin Sullivan plated a run with a RBI single in the eighth that knotted the game at five.

FAU came from behind Friday night to win, 7-6. The Owls used a nine-run fifth inning on Saturday to blow out Middle Tennessee, 10-1.

For the first time this season, the Owls will travel to Coral Gables on Wednesday for a date with the Hurricanes.

FAU’s season last year ended at Mark Light Field with a pair of losses to Long Beach State. Left-hander Sean Labsan (1-0, 5.06 ERA) will take the mound for FAU.