BOCA RATON, Fla. — Aaron Burns and Karan Patel combined for 11 strikeouts, but it wasn't enough to hold off No. 17 Florida Atlantic in a 5-4 setback on Friday night at FAU Stadium.
The Roadrunners (15-29, 6-16 C-USA) reached double-digit strikeouts for the first time since facing Gonzaga back on March 13 when they recorded 12.
UTSA was quick to score against the nationally-ranked Owls (31-13, 15-7 C-USA), but the lead was taken back in a blink of an eye in the fourth when FAU plated four runs to take a one-run lead.
Back-to-back hits in the opening frame by Skyler Valentine and Matt Hilston easily scored the first run of the inning. Bryan Arias then drove in the next run to get the RBI on the ground out.
In the top of the fourth, the Roadrunners cushioned their lead with a run by C.J. Pickering, as the second baseman came home on a double play to make it 3-0. However, that lead vanished quickly when Florida Atlantic exploded for its four runs.
The Owls batted around in the inning and scored once more in the following frame on Christian Dicks' first home run of the season for the final score of the game.
Before Dicks was able to hit one out of the ballpark, the Roadrunners tied the score at four on a two-out single by Pickering that scored Arias.
Three Roadrunners players notched multiple hits with J.T. Gilmore, Hilston and Pickering recording two each.
Aaron Burns was charged with the loss after giving up all five runs in his 4.2 innings of work. Meanwhile, Patel matched a season best with seven strikeouts in his 3.1 innings. The right-hander struck out the side in the eighth and retired 10 of the 13 batters faced.
Nick Swan earned the win for FAU as he went 3.2 innings, struck out two and scattered four hits.
The series will continue at 3 p.m. (CT) on Saturday.
