FAU avoids sweep with 11-3 win over LA Tech

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Louisiana Tech baseball team dropped an 11-3 decision to Florida Atlantic on Sunday afternoon, as the Owls avoided a sweep with a win in the final game of the weekend set from FAU Baseball Stadium.

LA Tech (24-11, 10-5 Conference USA) lost its first game in its last 10 contests, snapping the nation’s longest active winning streak at 10 consecutive games. Despite the defeat, the Bulldogs still claimed the series win over the Owls (24-11, 11-4 C-USA) – its seventh consecutive road series win, dating back to last season.

Tech came out as the aggressors early in the first, keyed by the top of the lineup. Taylor Young worked a leadoff walk, and then back-to-back singles from Hunter Wells and Mason Mallard (RBI) gave the visitors an early 1-0 lead.

The Bulldogs would add to the early lead in the top of the third after a seeing-eye RBI single from Tanner Huddleston through the right side, plated Mason Mallard who led off the inning with a walk.

FAU would respond with a run in the bottom of the third, and then took its first lead in any game of the weekend set in the bottom of the fourth. The Owls saw runners at the corners with one out following a single and a hit by pitch. Then, an RBI groundout from Richie Nizza and an RBI single from Jacob Josey gave FAU the lead at 3-2.

Then after the Tech bats fell quiet in the fifth, the Owls struck for five in the bottom of the fifth and one in the sixth, essentially putting the game away.

Tech added a run in the top of the eighth via an RBI groundout from Parker Bates, but then the Owls struck for another crooked number in the bottom half, plating four in the eighth.

FAU starter Jon Jon Kostantis (3-0) picked up the win, tossing 4.0 innings while allowing two runs on four hits, while striking out four.

Logan Bailey dropped to 4-4 on the year, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits while striking out two and walking two. Tech used five pitchers in relief after Bailey was chased in the fifth inning.

Hunter Wells (2-for-4) and Mason Mallard (2-for-3, 1 RBI, 1 BB) combined for four of Tech’s five hits as a team.

The Bulldogs return to action on Tuesday, taking on ULM in a midweek contest from Monroe. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.