{"id":255046,"date":"2026-05-02T06:24:09","date_gmt":"2026-05-02T06:24:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/255046\/"},"modified":"2026-05-02T06:24:09","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T06:24:09","slug":"owls-take-down-usf-for-mccormacks-600th-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/255046\/","title":{"rendered":"Owls Take Down USF for McCormack\u2019s 600th Win"},"content":{"rendered":"

TAMPA, Fla. \u00a0\u2013\u00a0 Florida Atlantic baseball (23-22, 9-10) took the series opener from host South Florida (28-17, 7-12) on Friday night in Tampa by a 12-9 final. The victory is the 600th career win for Owls’ Head Coach John McCormack<\/a>.
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THE BEGINNING
The Owls stormed out of the gates for three runs in the first inning. After two walks and a hit-by-pitch, Ian Collier<\/a> flared a base hit to shallow right field to open the scoring. John Martinez<\/a> followed with a two-RBI single that narrowly stayed fair down the left field line. A sacrifice fly by Brando Leroux<\/a> later in the frame made it 4-0.
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Another three runs crossed the plate in the second inning to build the lead out to a touchdown and an extra point. Michael Perazza<\/a> singled home Marshall Lipsey<\/a> before Collier and Martinez recorded back-to-back sac flies to put the visitors up 7-0. \u00a0
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THE TURNING POINT
USF chipped away and cut the Owls’ lead down to 9-4 in the fourth inning. They nearly made it 9-5, but Perazza robbed the Bulls’ Ryan Pruitt of an extra-base hit with a diving catch to end the frame. \u00a0<\/p>\n

Michael Perazza<\/a>!!! What a catch!!!<\/p>\n

cc: @American_Conf<\/a> #TopPlays<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/3t8yzIFwi7<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Florida Atlantic Baseball (@FAUBaseball) May 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

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After his highlight reel play in the field, Perazza went to work on offense in the top of the fifth. His fourth home run of the season, a two-run shot, restored the Owls’ seven-run lead at 11-4.
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THE FINISH
The Owls led 12-4 going to the bottom of the ninth. USF didn’t go quietly, though. The Bulls scored five runs on four hits before Carson Kimball<\/a> put the final nail in the coffin with a game-ending strikeout.
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QUOTABLE\u00a0
Head Coach John McCormack<\/a><\/p>\n

Postgame with @FAUCoachMac<\/a> after the Owls down USF for win number 600 #WIP<\/a>\ud83c\udfdd\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/gBhBahpkFc<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Florida Atlantic Baseball (@FAUBaseball) May 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

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THE BATS<\/p>\n

Perazza (4), Collier (3), and Martinez (3) combined to drive in 10 of the Owls’ 12 runs.Perazza finished the night 2-for-3 at the plate with three runs scored.Nick Romano<\/a> also had two hits and scored two runs.<\/p>\n

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THE ARMS<\/p>\n

James Litman<\/a> completed seven innings to earn his eighth win of the season.The sophomore leads the American Conference in wins.Litman struck out four and allowed four runs on eight hits. \u00a0<\/p>\n

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WHAT’S NEXT
The Owls will go for the series win on Saturday. Game time has been moved up to noon to avoid forecasted late afternoon weather.
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FOLLOW THE OWLS
To stay up to date on all things Florida Atlantic baseball, follow us on social media @faubaseball.
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