Florida Atlantic University’s baseball team achieved a season-high in both runs and hits during their 11-4 win over Villanova on Friday night at FAU Baseball Stadium. The victory brings the Owls’ record to 4-5, while Villanova drops to 2-4. The teams are scheduled to meet again on Saturday at noon for the second game of the series.
The Owls took an early lead, scoring two runs in the second inning and three more in the third to make it 5-0. Brando Leroux and Michael Perazza started off with singles before TJ Gramesty hit his first collegiate base hit, bringing in two runs. In the third inning, a wild pitch with bases loaded allowed another run, followed by a sacrifice fly from Perazza and an RBI single from John Martinez.
Villanova managed to score a run in the fourth inning, but Florida Atlantic widened its lead in the fifth with four more runs, all coming with two outs. Singles by Martinez and Xavier Moronta set up Gramesty for his second RBI hit of the game. Later that inning, Nick Romano delivered a two-run single to extend the Owls’ advantage to 9-1.
The Wildcats responded with two runs in the seventh and one more in the eighth inning. However, Florida Atlantic added insurance runs when Perazza tripled off the center field wall to bring home Eli Small, followed by Martinez’s third hit of the night which scored Perazza. Despite loading the bases in the ninth inning, Villanova was unable to score further.
After the game, Head Coach John McCormack commented: “Postgame with @FAUCoachMac#WIPpic.twitter.com/byGNnTBVxF”.
Romano (3-for-4), Perazza (3-for-4), and Martinez (3-for-5) led Florida Atlantic’s offense by combining for nine out of fifteen total hits and six RBIs among them. Perazza also contributed a stolen base and scored twice. Gramesty finished 2-for-5 with his second and third RBIs of the season.
On the mound, James Litman improved his record to 2-1 after pitching six innings and allowing just one run on six hits while striking out seven batters and walking two.
The series continues Saturday at noon as both teams return for game two.
To follow updates on Florida Atlantic baseball games and news, fans can visit social media at @faubaseball.
