MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Florida Atlantic Owls (22-12, 4-3 C-USA) scored eight runs in the fourth and the fifth en route to a dominant 10-4 series-opening win against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (23-9, 4-3 C-USA) at Blue Raider Softball Field on Friday evening.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a scoreless first three innings, Jesiana Mora reached on a Middle Tennessee error to lead-off the fourth. Mora stole second to get into scoring possession before advancing to third off a sacrifice bunt from Becca Jones. Zoey Jones then knocked an RBI-double up the middle to plate Mora and give the Owls the first run of the day, 1-0.
Middle Tennessee evened things up in the bottom of the fourth off a fielder’s choice sacrifice bunt to make it 1-1 after four innings of play.
The tie didn’t last long as Sommer Baker connected on a lead-off solo shot, her first home run of the season, to put the Owls back in front, 2-1. After a Cammeo Presutti single, Olivia Peterson hit the Owls second home run of the day, and Peterson’s fourth of the season, over the left-field wall to plate two more and push the Florida Atlantic lead to three heading into the sixth, 4-1.
With two down in the sixth, Peterson connected on her third hit of the day, knocking a single into left field to bring across Baker and Kaitlyn Cunningham, making it 6-1 FAU. However, the hot-hitting Owls didn’t stop there as Mora connected on her first home run of the season, knocking a three-RBI bomb over the right-center wall to plate Peterson and Presutti and push the Owls’ advantage to eight heading to the bottom of the sixth, 9-1.
The Blue Raiders got three back in the bottom of the frame off a two-RBI triple and an RBI groundout to cut the Owls lead to just five, 9-4.
However, the Blue Raiders’ rally wasn’t enough as Riley Ennis tied Peterson for her team-leading fourth home run of the season on a one-out moonshot in the seventh to give the Owls the 10-4 win.
NOTES/NOTABLE
- Sommer Baker and Jesiana Mora recorded their first home runs of the season.
- Olivia Peterson and Riley Ennis posted their team-leading fourth home runs of the season.
- Peterson and Cammeo Presutti both posted multi-hit days, going 3-for-4 and 2-for-3 at the plate, respectively.
- Gabby Sacco put in six innings of work, allowing four earned runs on six hits, and tossing a pair of strikeouts.
- Ainsley Lambert closed out the game for the Owls, recording one inning of work.
NEXT UP
The Owls will look to win the series tomorrow, Saturday, April 1, as they play game two against the Blue Raiders at 5 p.m. ET at Blue Raider Softball Field.
TICKETS
Fans may purchase tickets online or at FAU’s softball stadium
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