The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

BJ MURRAY continued his stellar sophomore season for the Florida Atlantic University Owls and just produced a career best hitting stretch at the plate.

The Owls dropped a four game set to the Charlotte 49ers, but Murray hit a home run in each game of the series and batted .467 with seven hits and eight RBI. In game one, Murray went 2-4 with two RBI, including a run scoring single and his solo shot in the third inning of the 9-5 loss.

In the first game of Saturday’s double header, he went 2-4, including a solo homer in the second and added an RBI single in the sixth. He also scored two runs.

In game two of the double header, Murray hit another solo shot in the first inning of a 5-4 loss. In the series finale, he went 2-4 with a two-run single and solo home run in the ninth inning of an 11-10 loss.

Murray’s eight home runs and 69 total bases are now tied for the team lead in each category.

Through 28 games this season, all starts, the 6’ 205 pound infielder is hitting .333 with a .450 OBP, slugging .657.

He is second on the team in both RBI (32) and runs (29). His 69 total bases also includes six doubles and two triples.

Murray is also currently on a six-game hit streak and has recorded a hit in 10 of his last 11 games. He has 11 multi-hit games on the season. His quick start to the season began with his production at the plate to lead the Owls to a 2-1 series opening win over then No.24 ranked Central Florida Knights.

Murray hit .312 with a 1.040 OPS, six RBI, one double, one triple, one home-run, and four runs scored.

He also has a pair of three hit games, 3-5 with an RBI in the Owls’ 3-2 win over then No.6 Florida Gators and 3-5 with three RBI and two runs in a 13-11 win over Florida Gulf Coast.

With the trio of one-run losses last weekend, the Owls are now 15-13 on the season, 4-4 in Conference USA play.

FAU hosts Old Dominion next weekend at home, a four-game C-USA series, beginning this coming Friday night.

In the preseason rankings, the league’s coaches voted the Owls to finish first in the C-USA East Division.

Old Dominion (21-5) and Charlotte (18-9) are currently tied for the division lead at 7-1.