Florida Atlantic University’s baseball team secured a 4-2 win over Missouri on Tuesday night at FAU Baseball Stadium, bringing both teams’ records to 2-2. The Owls were led by Kide Adetuyi, who pitched five innings in his first collegiate start and allowed only one hit through the first five frames.
Missouri struggled offensively early in the game, failing to record a hit until the fourth inning. In that same inning, Florida Atlantic took the lead with two runs. Michael Perazza and Patrick Ward started things off with singles before Xavier Moronta drove in a run with his first base hit as an Owl. TJ Gramesty followed up with a sacrifice fly to double the advantage.
Adetuyi returned for the sixth inning but after recording one out, gave up an infield single that brought the tying run to the plate. Missouri’s Jace Woita then hit a two-run home run, evening the score and ending Adetuyi’s outing.
The tie held until the bottom of the seventh when Brett Patten doubled and Nick Romano hit a home run on his first pitch of the season, putting Florida Atlantic back in front.
Kyzer Smith handled pitching duties in the eighth inning without allowing any runs and Bryan Boully closed out the ninth for his first career save despite issuing a two-out walk.
Head Coach John McCormack commented after the game: “Postgame with @FAUCoachMac#WIPpic.twitter.com/YYODPgjcmp”
The Owls tallied eight hits overall, with Ward and Perazza each collecting two. Perazza has recorded at least one hit in every game he has played this season. Gramesty registered his first career RBI during his fourth-inning sacrifice fly.
On the mound, Adetuyi finished with 5.1 innings pitched, four strikeouts, and three hits allowed without earning a decision. Smith was credited with his first victory of the year after striking out two batters across 2.2 innings while giving up just one hit. Boully struck out two more hitters during his save opportunity.
Florida Atlantic will next host Iowa for a weekend series starting Friday, February 20 at 6:30 p.m., followed by games on Saturday at 4 p.m., and Sunday at 11 a.m.
