After today's (and yesterday's) satisfying 6-2 pay back victory over LaTech, which all but eliminates the Bulldogs from NCAA post-season consideration (as their RPI is now around 60) unless they win the CUSA championship from the losers bracket, next up is Florida Atlantic and an opportunity to pay them back for their classless behavior at Reckling in the Sunday "walk off" tie game. I think players, coaches and fans alike have hoped for this matchup.
FAU comes in with an overall 37-15-1 record (19-8-1 in CUSA, 14-9 away from home, #29 RPI, #32 ISR, #119 Strength of Schedule), and have already all but locked up a #2 seed in the NCAA regional round. They were 2-0-1 against us a month ago at Reckling, but all three games were close.
FAU is a team that relies on an aggressive-swinging, power-hitting offense...a Friday ace (LHP Miednick, who only threw 2 innings and 34 pitches yesterday)...and a very good, deep bullpen. In addition to having an extra day of rest on us, all but one of the four pitchers who three in their Game 1 vs. FIU will likely be available to pitch again in our game. Miednick was pulled early yesterday because he couldn't throw strikes, but he threw only a handful more pitches than Addison Moss did in his one inning for us yesterday. On the positive side, aside from Miednick and Poore (who threw 2.0 IP and 28 pitches yesterday), the remainder of their staff are right-handed pitchers, which probably works to our advantage.
Here's their schedule and record to date...
http://warrennolan.com/baseball/2018/schedule/FAU
...and their individual and team stats...
http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/fau/..._stats.pdf
Offensively, FAU led the conference in HRs (67, with 5 different players with 7+ HRs) and were second in being hit by pitches. As a team they're hitting .268/.361./440, with 67 HRs, 97 doubles/triples, 35-44 SBs and are averaging 6.5 runs per game. They have a top-heavy lineup led by first team all-conferencers David Miranda (.321/.406/.542, 9 HRs, 17 doubles/triples, 45 RBIs, 43 runs) and Tyler Frank (.315/.455/.581, 11 HRs, 20 doubles/triples, 29 RBIs, 57 runs, 45 BBs). However, Miranda pulled up lame on his game-winning 3-RBI "single" yesterday, and is questionable for the rest of the tournament. They rarely play small ball, having succeeded on only 15 bunt attempts all year, but they do have two stolen base threats in Rivers (10-12 SBs) and Wilson (11-12 SBs).
We don't want to get in a position where we're behind entering the 9th inning, as their all-conference closer (RHP Schneider) is almost strictly a one-inning closer, but has been virtually unbeatable. In 21 appearances, covering 23.1 innings, he's racked up 14 saves and 5 wins (though his across-the-board stats are good, but hardly exceptional).
Time to get our revenge on FAU, and pay them back for their bush-league stall tactics in our finale at Reckling (when we had the winning run at 2B with no outs when their coach motioned their players onto the field at promptly 4:15pm). We need to play a clean game in the field, minimize the gifted runs allowed (we only had one against LaTech), and cut down on the strikeouts on offense. Essentially, another elimination game for us. Win and keep the hope alive. Let's get it done. Go Owls!
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Rice vs. FAU Winners Bracket Preview-- The One We Want
