With two outs in the bottom of the ninth and the score knotted at five apiece, Florida Atlantic junior slugger Jake Duer stepped to the plate. The crowd at FAU Baseball Stadium held its breath as Duer launched a no-doubt solo shot over the left-field fence — the first of his Florida Atlantic career — rounded the bases, slammed his helmet into the ground and set off a raucous dugout celebration that secured a 6-5 walk-off win over Fordham. That dramatic swing encapsulates the Owls’ scorching 10-1 start — a blend of powerful hitting, lockdown pitching and unwavering confidence.
Although one moment can’t tell the whole story of a season, FAU’s flair for the “big play” has defined its opening weeks. Head coach John McCormack’s squad has outscored opponents 89-41, hitting .322 as a team and racking up 14 home runs. Even in their lone setback — a 5-3, 10-inning loss to UConn — the Owls rebounded with a 4-3 road triumph at UCF just two days later.
“I think if you asked anybody prior to last weekend if you go 6-1… beat Miami and take two of three from UConn… everyone would’ve signed up for that,” McCormack said after the team’s only loss. “It’s just that when you get to this point with a chance to sweep and, don’t do it. The guys fought. We just have to be able to close the door when we have a late lead like that.”
The Owls’ success has largely been due to the emergence of Duer, who leads the team with a .520 average and 26 hits, newcomer John Martinez (.353) and the power-hitting Jake Millan (.325). Freshman Kyle Boylston has also made a notable impact, batting .471 and adding much-needed speed on the basepaths. Collectively, they’ve displayed a knack for striking in bunches, evidenced by multiple double-digit scoring performances, including a 25-17 outburst against UConn.
On the mound, Trey Beard has solidified himself as a front-line starter. The sophomore left-hander owns three consecutive outings with double-digit strikeouts, culminating in a career-high 12 in a 5-2 victory over Fordham. Tyler Murphy, tagged by D1Baseball as one of the American Athletic Conference’s top 2025 MLB draft prospects, provides a stabilizing presence in the rotation, while freshman James Litman has chipped in with scoreless relief appearances. That depth has also shown up in high-pressure moments, where relievers like MJ Bollinger have frequently held the line.
“We did pitch well, and we did play really good defense,” McCormack said after a win over Fordham. “It’s just, offensively, we were not good. We were not prepared, and I take responsibility for that.”
FAU’s schedule intensifies with a trip to Gainesville to face No. 6 Florida on Wednesday before turning to its first AAC series against Rice in late March. As the competition ramps up, McCormack’s primary concern remains consistency. Balancing a potent offense with reliable arms and in-game adaptability will be the key to maintaining a top squad through the spring.
“After the last two nights, I hope that our guys don’t think that it’s going to get easier — because it’s not,” McCormack said. “I told them that in the postgame.”
From the walk-off dramatics to dominant pitching performances, Florida Atlantic is proving it can thrive — especially in tense moments. Behind their hot bats and steady bullpen, the Owls have authored an early statement in the AAC. Whether they can maintain this pace remains to be seen, but for now, Florida Atlantic is ensuring every swing counts.
