BOCA RATON, Fla. (Interstat) — James Litman dominated over seven strong innings and Marshall Lipsey drove in three runs as Florida Atlantic erupted for a 14-2 victory over Florida International in a nonconference college baseball game Friday at FAU Baseball Stadium.

The Owls (7-6) scored in four consecutive innings, highlighted by a five-run third and a five-run sixth, to overwhelm the Golden Panthers (7-8) in the opener of a three-game weekend series. The lopsided result defied a pregame projection from Interstat that had favored Florida International by a slim margin.

Litman, a right-hander, was the catalyst for Florida Atlantic’s success. He stifled the Golden Panthers’ lineup, allowing one earned run on six hits while striking out 10 and walking none. His performance built on a solid outing the previous week against Villanova and provided stability after the Owls’ bullpen was taxed in recent games.

Florida International struck first with an unearned run in the second inning. After Armando Candelas singled and advanced on a passed ball, Aris Rivera delivered an RBI single for a 1-0 lead.

The game turned decisively in the bottom of the third. After Florida Atlantic loaded the bases with one out, a throwing error by Florida International first baseman Alex Cohall on a fielder’s choice allowed Nicholas Romano to score. John Martinez followed with an RBI single to tie the game, and Ryder Ward added another run-scoring single to give the Owls a 3-2 lead. Martinez later scored on a balk to cap the five-run frame and extend the advantage to 4-2.

The Owls broke the game open in the fourth. With the bases loaded, Martinez laced a two-run single to center. During the same play, Martinez was caught in a rundown, but baserunner Jackson Patten stole home on the back end of the double steal, pushing the lead to 7-2.

Florida Atlantic continued to apply pressure in the fifth. Lipsey launched a two-run homer to right field, scoring Ward and making it 9-2. The Owls sent 10 men to the plate in the sixth, scoring five more runs on a two-run double by TJ Gramesty, a sacrifice fly by Kyle Boylston and an RBI single by Lipsey.

The most important sequence of the game was Florida Atlantic’s five-run third inning. It immediately answered Florida International’s early lead, capitalized on a critical Golden Panthers error and chased starter Preston Prince, who had thrown two scoreless innings. The outburst shifted all momentum permanently to the home side and provided Litman with a comfortable cushion from which to operate.

Florida International’s second run came in the seventh when pinch-hitter Trey Freeman connected for a solo home run off Litman. Rivera finished 2 for 2 with an RBI for the Golden Panthers, who managed just six hits total.

For the Owls, Martinez went 2 for 4 with three RBIs, Lipsey was 2 for 4 with the homer and three RBIs, and Gramesty drove in two runs. Florida Atlantic collected 10 hits and drew nine walks.

The teams continue the series Saturday in Miami before returning to Boca Raton for the finale on Sunday.