National spotlight shining on Owls
Kiffin building interest in FAU with several games being televised.
BOCA RATON — After one season, Conference USA and the TV networks they’re partnered with have come to an early conclusion: Lane Kiffin and the Florida Atlantic Owls are must-see TV.
Conference USA announced on Thursday that not only will Kiffin and the Owls play four of their 12 games on national networks, but another four will air exclusively on Facebook by either CBS Sports Network or Stadium.
FAU had two nationally televised games last season, a Sept. 1 loss to Navy (ESPNU) and a Nov. 3 win over Marshall (CBS Sports Network), before playing the C-USA title game on ESPN2 and the Boca Bowl on ESPN.
FAU played six of its eight C-USA games on Stadium, though the regular-season finale over Charlotte on Nov. 25 was a Facebook-only game.
FAU TV
a game that took only two hours and 20 minutes. In that one, Richard gave up four hits over seven innings.
“I don’t think there’s any tricks with knowing who he is,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said of Richard. “We’ve seen him enough. A couple of series ago I thought we chased a lot of balls down, a lot of easy outs. Obviously, these guys know it, so the movement was probably good today.”
The Marlins were able to make contact, for the most part. Richards struck out five batters. But nothing that came off their bats landed for a hit. Cameron Maybin crushed a fly ball that was caught on the warning track in center in the first inning, a ball that might have gone out in many other ballparks.
Lewis Brinson nearly beat out an infield hit with a ground ball in the second. But second baseman Jose Pirela’s throw beat him by a whisker, a play so close that the Marlins asked for a replay review. Their challenge was unsuccessful.
Urena, who has received precious little run support all season, received none at all on Sunday. Urena (1-8) went six innings, allowing three runs, with two coming on Eric Hosmer’s home run in the sixth. Given Richard’s performance, three runs was insurmountable for the Marlins, who ended up losing two of three from the Padres in the series.
The Marlins scored their only run in the seventh, Richard’s final inning. Following Rojas’ hit, JT Riddle stroked an RBI single to prevent the shutout. Those would turn out to be the Marlins’ only hits all game as the Padres bullpen picked up where Richards left off.
“He got quick outs,” Maybin said. “That’s what he does. He works fast, throws a lot of strikes. He had some good stuff going today.”
Former Marlins pitcher Brad Hand worked the ninth for his 19th save.