SPORTS
New FAU President Mary Jane Saunders visited the school for the first time by attending and throwing the first pitch when the Owls hosted the University of Miami on April 6. It seems that wasn’t enough inspiration, as FAU lost to its southern foe for the second time in a week.
In front of a season-high 1,494 fans at FAU Stadium, the Owls dropped to 16-12 (7-5 in the Sun Belt Conference) on the year as the Hurricanes (21-7, 10-2) posted an 8-5 victory that was never really in doubt.
“I thought [starting pitcher] Taylor Everist overall threw pretty well,” said FAU head coach John McCormack. “His tempo was good, and his slider was good for the most part, except for those two pitches.”
The pitches McCormack referenced were the two home runs surrendered by Everist (2-5) to Hurricanes designated hitter Yasmani Grandal and second baseman Frankie Ratcliff in the fourth inning. Grandal, a projected first-rounder in the upcoming MLB Draft, smashed a two-run home run over the right field wall moments before Ratcliff knocked out a three-run homer to right-center.
“I think I threw good [for the most part],” said Everist, who pitched four innings. “The two home runs, both with two outs, were just the bad pitches, really.”
The Owls responded in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run from first baseman Dan Scheffler. The home run was his eighth of the season.
Trailing 8-1 in the bottom of the eighth, FAU managed to close the margin by scoring four runs in the inning. The big hit, an RBI double, came courtesy of shortstop Nick DelGuidice.
That would be as close as the Owls would get against UM, as both teams were held scoreless in the ninth.
“I don’t know if the [eighth inning] rally helps,” said McCormack. “I think it just makes us feel better about ourselves offensively.”
FAU may need that boost of confidence, as it will play the Hurricanes for the final time in the regular season on Wednesday, April 7, in Miami.