FAU scores six in sixth inning to put away FIU

Victory lets Owls play another day in conference tourney.

BILOXI, MISS. — A six-run sixth inning helped Florida Atlantic remain alive in the Conference USA baseball tournament with an 8-4 victory over FIU on Thursday morning.

Trailing 2-0 in the top of the sixth, the third-seeded Owls (34-20-1) loaded the bases with two outs against the seventh-seeded Golden Panthers (31-27).

Pedro Pages then gave the Owls the lead when he slammed a double down the left-field line to clear the bases.

After a walk to Eric Rivera, Jared Shouppe followed with a long home run to right to suddenly make it 6-2 FAU.

After FIU scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull within 6-4, Esteban Florida Atlantic vs. Old Dominion, Biloxi, Miss., 3 p.m.

Puerta laced a two-run double in the top of the seventh for the game’s final runs.

After FAU starter Blake Sanderson gave up two runs on four hits in two innings, Owls reliever Alex House (6-4) entered in the third inning and held FIU to two runs (one earned) and struck out eight in seven innings.

“Now we just move on, and at this point, there’s no style points,” FAU coach John McCormack told fausports. com. “You get no points for looking good or making good moves. Those things are all out the window. It’s just about winning games and trying to advance on for the championship and/or the NCAA Tournament.”

FAU advances to play at 3 p.m. today against second-seeded Old Dominion.