In Kevin Cooney’s final home game after 21 years at the helm as FAU’s head baseball coach, he led the team to the first tie in 18 years at FAU Stadium, an 11-11 result in an official six-inning contest against the Arkansas State Indians.
Indians’ starting pitcher Jacob Maggard allowed seven runs, all earned, in four and two-thirds innings. Owls starting pitcher Mickey Storey allowed seven runs, six earned, in five innings of pitching.
After the fifth inning a squall of thunderstorms moved over the Boca Raton area, causing a rain delay of one hour and sixteen minutes.
The rain began to fall in the bottom half of the fifth inning. Owls’ catcher Alex Silversmith tied the game at seven, driving in first baseman Travis Ozga and right fielder Mike McKenna, and also advancing designated hitter Tom Hatcher to second.
Third baseman Daniel Cook then ended the inning, flying out to center, keeping the score tied at seven and a tie game possible because the game became official after five played innings.
It was agreed that no inning would start after 4 p.m. so that the Indians could catch their flight back to their hometown of Jonesboro, Ark. that left Fort Lauderdale Airport at 6:40 p.m.
The umpires decided to end the rain delay at 3:45 p.m. in order to get in one more inning and try to break the tie.
Owls pitchers Brett Cannon and Alex Pepe combined to allow four runs in the top of the sixth. The Indians’ Drew Benes hit a base-clearing double, earning three RBIs to put the Indians ahead 11-7.
Indians pitchers Nick Lambert and Chris Bullington then copied the Owls’ pitchers performance in the bottom of the sixth. FAU second baseman William Block hit a three-run homer to tie the game. “I was just trying to get a base hit. Once it went in the air, I just hoped they weren’t going to catch it,” said Block.
Owls’ senior right fielder Mike McKenna had his third four-hit game of the season. He has been contacted by a few major league teams about the upcoming Major League Baseball draft, according to McKenna.
As to if he will be drafted, McKenna said, “I haven’t really thought about it yet. I am focusing on this season and the conference games coming up.”
The Owls are now 27-23-1 on the season and 13-11-1 in their Sun Belt Conference games. Their next game is on May 13 at 6 p.m. in Fort Myers, a shot to tie the season and all-time record against the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles at one game apiece.
