Florida Atlantic coaches and players have been talking about their next big weekend series for more than a month. Tonight, the next big series become the last big series.

The Owls enter the tonight's series against Florida International in ninth place in the Sun Belt Conference, with only the top eight making the post-season tournament. FAU does, however, control its own destiny. Sweep the series and they'll be playing next weekend. Win two and there's a good chance they'll earn a berth.

"Now it's drop dead," FAU coach John McCormack said. "It's here. It's been looming out there for the past couple of weeks."

It's a good thing, too, because the Owls have grown tired of thinking and talking about their plight.

"It's a relief," first baseman Travis Ozga (photo) said. "This is it. It's do to die right now. We're either going to come through big and make it to the conference tournament or we are not, and that's what it boils down to."

FAU has offered little reason to believe they can sweep the series. They haven't posted a three-game conference sweep all year (they did sweep two from Louisiana-Lafayette in a rain-shortened series). In fact, they haven't won three consecutive conference games at any point this season.

That's not to say they can't do it. They have the talent. It simply seems more likely that they will need a little help to get into the tournament, which means that when Saturday's 1 p.m. game ends, Owls fans will likely be rushing home to catch the conclusion of the televised Lousiana-Lafayette vs. New Orleans game.

"When we play our best game we've been extremely tough to beat and I think over the past couple weeks we've come around, made a turn, and started playing some really good baseball," Ozga said.

Saturday surprise: McCormack isn't being coy by listing Saturday's pitcher as TBA. He really isn't sure exactly who will take the mound. His choice is between Barry Rooks and Brent Adheen.

McCormack would prefer to start Rooks on Saturday, but realizes he may need the big lefty in relief in one of the first two games. All pitchers will be on short leashes this weekend. Rooks has demonstated he can gobble up innings out of the pen if one of the starters falters early. If Rooks is needed in the first two games, Adheen starts the season finale. If FAU starters go deep into Thursday's and Friday's games, look for Rooks to get the ball in the regular season finale.

FAUOwlAccess.com has been the only media outlet to provide consistent, accurate coverage of FAU baseball throughout the season. Needless to say, it's the place to turn for complete coverage of this decisive series.

chuck

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