The USF Bulls were back in action Saturday afternoon against their in-state rivals, the FAU Owls, in game two of a three-game set at Red McEwen Field in Tampa. USF lost their second consecutive game to FAU 6-5 to fall further behind 8n the conference race.
With every loss, the danger of missing the AAC postseason tournament grows for the USF Bulls.
Right-hander Michael Senay (6-3, 3.68 ERA) was on the mound for USF Saturday afternoon, trying to end the Bulls five-game losing streak.
This was a game that FAU led from start to finish as USF never had a lead in this game. Here is how it happened.
FAU got on the scoreboard first in the third inning. Brando Leroux singled with one out, which was followed by a Marshall Lipsey single. The Lipsey single was misplayed by USF centerfielder Jacob Green, allowing Leroux to come all the way around from first to score to give the Owls a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third, USF came right back. With one out, Jacob Green walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch, and then scored on a Jack Lutz single to tie the game 1-1 after three innings.
In the fourth inning, FAU went back to work with two outs. Brett Patan doubled, followed by a John Martinez double, giving the Owls a 2-1 lead.
FAU would add to the lead in the fifth inning as Jacob Lopez singled to start the inning. Brando Leroux then grounded to short, sending Lopez to second. A Marshall Lipsey grounder sent Lopez to third. Nick Romano would then single, driving in Lopez to give FAU a 3-1 lead.
Jackson Mirza would start a USF rally in the bottom of the fifth inning with a one-out single to center. Jacob Green then singled, sending Mirza to third. Jevin Realford would reach on an error by the pitcher, fielding a bunt to load the bases.
Jack Lutz singled to center to score Mirza and Realford as USF would tie the game at 3-3. Lance Trippel would fly out to center, and Nathan Early would strike out to end the threat and the inning.
After five innings, USF and FAU were tied 3-3.
Michael Senay gave way to Edwin Alicea in the seventh inning. Senay, the starter, pitched six strong innings for USF. He gave up 6 hits, 3 runs, walked one, and struck out four in his six innings of work.
The southpaw Kyle Adetuyi also had a nice outing for FAU. Adetuyi, in six innings, gave up five hits, three runs, walked two, and had seven strikeouts before giving way to Garrett Grant.
It would stay 3-3 until the ninth when the FAU offense came alive against the best closer in the AAC, Ethan Sutton.
Sutton relieved Edwin Alicia in the ninth after Alicia allowed a leadoff single to John Martinez. Sutton then got a fly out to center before Xavier Moronta pinch-hit for Jonathan Lopez.
Montana homered to right center, his first home run of the season, and just his second hit since March 11th, to give FAU a two-run lead, 5-3.
But the Owls weren’t done. After a Brando Leroux walk, Marshall Lipsey was called out at first on a bunt back to the pitcher, sending Leroux to second.
Nick Romano singled to right, scoring Leroux from second, giving FAU a 6-3 lead as the Bulls came to bat in the bottom of the ninth.
Needing a win in the worst way, USF went to work. Austin Pruitt singled to shortstop to start the inning. Jackson Geiger would then pinch hit for Jaun Correa, who singled to right center, advancing Pruitt to third.
That was all for reliever Garrett Grant as he gave way to reliever Carson Kimball with two on and no outs in the bottom of the ninth.
Kimball was greeted by a Jason Mirza single to center, scoring Pruitt to cut the FAU lead to 6-4. Kimball would then get Jacob Green to strike out swinging for the first out of the inning.
Jevin Realford singled to center, scoring Geiger to make it a one-run game, 6-5, with one out in the ninth, putting runners on first and second with one out.
Jack Lutz reached on a fielder’s choice as Realford was forced out at second with Lutz going to third.
Lance Trippel then walked to load the bases for Nathan Early with two outs.
Kimball struck out Early to end the game and give FAU the 6-5 win over the USF Bulls and the series win.
FAU is now 23-22 on the season and 9-10 in the AAC, while USF drops to 28-18 overall, 7-13 in the AAC.
This is the third consecutive series that FAU has won in conference play, while USF has dropped its last three series.
The two teams return to the diamond tomorrow at 2 PM to wrap up their three-game series, as USF tries to salvage at least one game of the series.