TAMPA, Fla. (Interstat) — Florida Atlantic scored 12 runs on 10 hits Friday night and held off a late South Florida rally for a 12-9 American Athletic victory at USF Baseball Stadium. The Owls improved to 23-22; the Bulls fell to 28-17.

FAU erupted for six runs in the first inning and added four more in the second, building a 10-0 lead. Michael Perazza went 2 for 3 with a home run and four RBIs, while Ian Collier and John Martinez each drove in three runs. The Owls also executed three sacrifice flies.

South Florida chipped away. Jackson Mirza hit a two-run homer in the second, and Nate Earley homered in the fourth, finishing 3 for 5 with a home run and two RBIs. The Bulls scored five runs in the ninth, capped by Jake Kulikowski’s two-run double, but fell short. James Litman started for FAU, pitching seven innings and allowing four earned runs on zero hits with four strikeouts. Nakni Anna worked four innings of relief for USF, allowing one hit and no earned runs with three strikeouts. USF grounded into three double plays.