South Florida stays alive, Florida Atlantic eliminates Rice

by | May 22, 2025

South Florida bounced back from its loss to East Carolina and eliminated Wichita State in Wednesday’s play at the AAC Tournament.

Florida Atlantic also won to keep the season alive, sending Rice home after a win. Both teams have Thursday off and will play the losers of the two games scheduled, including ECU’s game with Charlotte.

Below is more information from the AAC.

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Photo credit: (Conor Kvatek, AAC photo)

By TheAmerican.org

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Matt Rose’s eighth-inning solo home run propelled No. 3 South Florida to a 4-3 victory over No. 7 Wichita State in an elimination game on Wednesday evening, May 21, at the 2025 American Baseball Championship presented by Regions at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Fla.

With the win, South Florida (30-24) will play the loser of Charlotte and East Carolina on Friday, May 23 at approximately 4:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+. Wichita State concludes the season at 20-36.

Down 3-1 heading into the top of the eighth, Wichita State’s Lane Haworth hit a pinch-hit solo home run to right and Josh Livingston stepped up two batters later to hit his own home run to right field to tie the game at 3-3. Rose then led off the bottom of the frame with a solo shot to left field, his second home run of the season.

Austin Newton (1-3) earned his first win of the season with 1.2 innings of scoreless relief after South Florida starter Jack Nedrow allowed three runs on five hits with seven strikeouts in 7.1 innings of work.

Aaron Arnold (5-3) took the loss for the Shockers, allowing one run in 1.1 innings of relief. Wichita State starter Brady Hamilton tossed 4.2 innings, allowing one run without a hit and four strikeouts.

Florida Atlantic Defeats Rice, 8-6, in Elimination Game

No. 4 Florida Atlantic hit four home runs on the way to an 8-6 win over No. 8 Rice in an elimination game on Wednesday afternoon, May 21, at the 2025 American Baseball Championship presented by Regions at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Fla.

With the win, Florida Atlantic (37-20) will play the loser of Tulane and UTSA on Friday, May 23 at 1 p.m. Eastern on ESPN+. Rice concludes the season 17-40.

John Schroeder hit his 16th and 17th home runs of the season, the second giving Florida Atlantic the lead in the sixth inning, 5-4. Carter Brady hit a solo home run in the seventh to push the Florida Atlantic lead to two at 6-4.

Rice tied the game in the top of the eighth with a 2-run single by Max Johnson, but Brando Leroux stepped up in the bottom of the frame and hit a 2-run home run to left to give Florida Atlantic the lead for good.

MJ Bollinger (3-3) earned the win for Florida Atlantic, tossing the final 1.2 innings without a run allowed. Jack Ben-Shoshan (3-4) took the loss for Rice, allowing two runs in 1+ innings of work.

2025 American Baseball Championship presented by Regions
BayCare Ballpark | Clearwater, Fla.
Championship Central

Tuesday, May 20
Game 1: No. 5 Tulane 6, No. 4 Florida Atlantic 3 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 2: No. 1 UTSA 4, No. 8 Rice 2 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 3: No. 2 Charlotte 7, No. 7 Wichita State 1 | Box Score | Highlights
Game 4: No. 6 East Carolina 9, No. 3 South Florida 4 | Box Score | Highlights

Wednesday, May 21
Game 5: No. 4 Florida Atlantic 8, No. 8 Rice 6 (Rice eliminated) | Box Score | Highlights
Game 6: No. 3 South Florida 4, No. 7 Wichita State 3 (Wichita State eliminated) | Box Score | Highlights

Thursday, May 22
Game 7: No. 5 Tulane vs. No. 1 UTSA | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 8: No. 6 East Carolina vs. No. 2 Charlotte | 47 minutes after Game 7 | ESPN+

Friday, May 23
Game 9: Loser of Game 7 vs. No. 4 Florida Atlantic | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
Game 10: Loser of Game 8 vs. No. 3 South Florida | 47 minutes after Game 9 | ESPN+

Saturday, May 24
Game 11: Winner of Game 7 vs. Winner of Game 9 | 9 a.m. | ESPN+
Game 12: Winner of Game 8 vs. Winner of Game 10 | 47 minutes after Game 11 | ESPN+
Game 13: Loser of Game 11 vs. Winner of Game 11 | TBD (if necessary) | ESPN+
Game 14: Loser of Game 12 vs. Winner of Game 12 | TBD (if necessary) | ESPN+

Sunday, May 25
Game 15: Semifinal Winners | Noon | ESPNEWS

All times listed are Eastern.

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