GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Cody Wilson and Gunnar Lambert drove in three runs apiece, and Florida Atlantic survived a minor comeback and a major weather delay to beat Jacksonville 12-7 in an elimination game Sunday in the NCAA baseball tournament.
The Owls (42-18-1) scored five runs in the first inning, five more in the second and led 12-0 before the Dolphins (40-21) got their second hit.
Jacksonville rallied with four runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh before lightning and then heavy rain halted play for 5 hours, 25 minutes. The Dolphins had runners on second and third with two outs before the stoppage. Reliever Drew Peden struck out pinch-hitter Chris Gau when play resumed.
The game took more than nine hours to complete, with the Owls ultimately advancing to play another win-or-go-home game against overall No. 1 seed and defending national champion Florida on Monday.
FAU needs to beat the host Gators twice to clinch the Gainesville Regional.
The Owls can only hope for another fast start. A day after Wilson’s RBI triple sparked a six-run first inning that helped eliminate Columbia, Wilson delivered an in-the-park home run that made it 2-0 after two batters. Lambert had a three-run homer later in the inning off starter Tyler Santana (10-2).
Wilson added an RBI single in the second and then scored on Eric Rivera’s two-run shot.
Jake Miednik (8-1) gave up two hits, five walks and four runs in five-plus innings.
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