DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Florida Atlantic scored five runs in the first inning on Tuesday evening, putting the visiting Owls on their way to a 12-6 victory over homestanding Bethune-Cookman in non-conference baseball action inside Radiology Associates Field at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
 
With two outs and a runner on first, Florida Atlantic (7-4-1) would plate five runs on the two-out rally, chasing Bethune-Cookman starting pitcher Alexis Herrera in the junior's second career start.
 
Already leading 1-0 on an Austin Langham single through the right side, Gary Mattis registered his first grand slam of the campaign with a deep shot clear the wall in left, vaulting the Owls up, 5-0.
 
Bethune-Cookman (8-4) would answer with a run in the bottom of the first, as Jameel Edney's sacrifice fly to right field crossed Adonis Lao from third, after Lao reached earlier in the inning on an error charged to FAU starting pitcher Sean Labsan.
 
The Wildcats would cut the lead at 5-4 in the home-half of the second inning.
 
Sophomore centerfielder Josten Heron delivered a RBI single to centerfield, eventually coming around to score on the play with an error, as the ball scored Chase DeBonis and Demetrius Sims as well.
 
After the Owls increased the lead to 7-4 in the top of the third on Mattis' second home run of the day, it would be the Wildcats bringing back a run in the home-half of the frame.
 
Heron recorded his second RBI hit of the game, this time a double to centerfield scoring Jordan Stacy to cut the deficit at 7-5.
 
However, FAU would plate a run in the fifth and three more in the sixth to run the lead out to 11-5.
 
BCU would score its last run of the contest in the sixth, using Edney's RBI double to left that scored Lao.
 
The Owls added an insurance run in the seventh as pinch hitter Aldrich DeJongh crossed third baseman Brad Mathiowetz with a RBI single right for the final 12-6 score line.
 
The loss went to Herrera, dropping him at 0-1 on the year. Herrera worked just two-thirds of an inning, giving up five runs on three hits and two walks.
 
The win went to FAU reliever Nick Prather (1-0), as starter Labsan was pulled in the second inning with just an inning and two-thirds worked himself.
 
Edney led the Wildcats at the dish with a 3-for-4 night, adding two runs driven in. Senior designated hitter Austin Garcia added a pair of hits, while teammate Heron was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.
 
Bethune-Cookman opens Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) play Friday, March 10, playing host to in-state opponent Florida A&M at Jackie Robinson Ballpark. The game will be televised by ESPNU with first pitch scheduled for 1 p.m.
 
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