Following a day-night doubleheader, the Owls took the field at FAU baseball stadium on Sunday for an unusual 10:30 a.m. start time.
The result was a sleepy 10-5 loss to Sun Belt Conference opponent Arkansas-Little Rock, who’ve won the three game series.
By the fourth inning, FAU found itself in a deep 6-0 hole, as the Trojans rocked Owls freshman pitcher Kyle Miller.
Previously undefeated this season (3-0), Miller suffered his first defeat, allowing four hits and six earned runs in four innings of work. He struck out nine batters.
Arkansas-Little Rock added two more runs in the sixth and seventh innings, taking an insurmountable 8-0 advantage into the eighth.
In the bottom of the eighth, FAU finally got on the board with RBI singles from third baseman Ricky Santiago and center fielder Nathan Pittman.
The Owls, however, continued to surrender runs. Relief pitcher Jimmy Tornabene came in and promptly gave up a home run, pushing the Trojans’ lead to 10-2.
Things briefly got exciting in the bottom of the ninth, when FAU attempted what would have been an incredible rally, scoring three runs off a two-run double by designated hitter Levi Meyer and another RBI single by Santiago.
The score was now 10-5, but that was the closest FAU would get, as infielder Sean Murrell struck out swinging to end the game and last home series of the season.
FAU dropped its overall record to 28-19, and Sun Belt mark to 13-11.
The Owls dip out of conference for a road game against Florida on Tuesday, May 7. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
