Florida Atlantic University’s baseball team secured a three-game sweep over Florida International University on Sunday, with freshman pitcher Garrett Grant delivering seven shutout innings. The Owls, now holding a 9-6 record, have won six of their last seven games as they prepare for upcoming matches against Presbyterian.
The Owls established an early lead in the first inning after Marshall Lipsey hit a leadoff double and Michael Perazza followed with an RBI single. Grant kept FIU’s offense in check, allowing only five hits and striking out five batters while walking one. His performance included escaping a fourth-inning jam with a double play and not allowing another hit until the seventh inning.
Florida Atlantic extended its lead during the fifth inning by sending nine players to the plate and scoring four runs on six consecutive singles. Contributions came from Perazza, John Martinez, Brando Leroux, and Eli Small with run-scoring at-bats.
Grant left the game after seven innings with the Owls ahead 7-0. FIU managed to score three runs in the eighth inning but was unable to mount a full comeback. Reilly Witmer and Kide Adetuyi closed out the ninth inning without allowing further runs.
Head Coach John McCormack commented postgame: “Postgame with @FAUCoachMac#WIPpic.twitter.com/VUl3GdNEaI”
The Owls recorded 15 hits in total, including three each from Lipsey, Romano, Perazza, and Martinez. Both Perazza and Martinez had two RBIs apiece. Xavier Moronta contributed by going 2-for-4 with an RBI single. Lipsey finished the series batting 9-for-15 with a home run, a double, and six runs scored; most of FAU’s hits were singles.
Grant achieved his first collegiate win and has allowed only two runs across his first 18.2 innings this season for an ERA of 0.96.
Florida Atlantic will continue non-conference play next week with two midweek games against Presbyterian at FAU Baseball Stadium beginning Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.
