Solid pitching and timely hitting allowed FAU to end a six-game losing streak as the Owls defeated Bethune-Cookman 11-5.

FAU freshman pitcher Hugh Adams set the tone early in his first collegiate start by keeping the Wildcats hitless for over four innings. Senior outfielder David Wilson provided the offensive spark, going two for two with a two-run home run in the fifth inning to help the Owls (18-16) capture a victory Wednesday evening at FAU Stadium.
“It feels real good to get another win,” says Adams.

With the win, the Owls ended their losing streak, including a nail-biting 3-1 loss to the No. 7 ranked Miami Hurricanes the night before in Coral Gables.

The Owls offense was held scoreless until the bottom of the fourth inning, when senior second baseman William Block scored after the ball slipped under the glove of Wildcats left fielder C.J. Lauriello to give the Owls a 1-0 lead.

BCU (18-19) tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fifth inning after a bad throw from sophomore third baseman Sean Bukovich to first base allowed the runner to score. Shortly after, head coach John McCormack decided to pull Adams out of the game after 78 pitches.
“He hadn’t thrown more than two innings this season, and I didn’t want to risk his health by letting him pitch longer,” said McCormack after the game.

Adams finished the game with 4 2/3 innings pitched, no hits or earned runs allowed, and three strikeouts, but five walks and three hit batters would shorten his stay on the mound. Pitcher Ahmed Garcia replaced Adams and bailed FAU out of the inning.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Owls came out swinging by tallying five runs to regain the lead. A string of doubles by Bukovich and sophomore shortstop Nick DelGuidice, along with a two-run home run to left center field by Wilson, gave the Owls pitching staff some breathing room for the remainder of the game.

The Wildcats earned their first hit of the top of the sixth inning on a bunt single by outfielder Justin Hoyte. This would eventually lead to the Wildcats scoring three runs in the inning, thanks to an RBI double by Lauriello and a fielding error by the Owls defense.

With the score 6-4, the Owls offense responded in the bottom of the seventh inning when senior first baseman Travis Ozga hit an opposite-field home run to lead off the inning. Block also hit a two-RBI single later in the order to make the score 11-4 and ultimately put the game out of reach for the Wildcats.

Pitchers Ryan Bernal and Glen Troyanowski combined to finish the final three innings, allowing only one run to seal the victory for the Owls.

With the win, the Owls improved their home record to 15-7 on the season.