BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic University softball opened its 29th season of play by hosting the Paradise Classic Tournament featuring Bethune-Cookman, Iowa, Loyola, Mississippi State and Stony Brook. The game also marked the first in head coach Jordan Clark‘s era at Florida Atlantic. Thursday’s saw MSU better the Owls by a 7-2 final.
CLARK CHATS
“We didn’t pitch it the way that we needed to pitch it with a couple of leadoff walks. It just felt like we didn’t keep them off the bases as much as we need to,” said Clark. “From an offensive standpoint, we left a lot of runners in scoring position. The double play with bases loaded to get us out of the inning was a gut punch. It was just awesome to see the girls compete and to fight back-and-forth, and eventually Mississippi State’s hitters just out hit us.”
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Owls struggled with their footing in the opening frame, giving up a walk followed by a two-run homer to center field. FAU then tied the game in the bottom of the third. Junior Cammeo Presutti hit a one-out single down the left field line, and then used heads up base running by scoring on a Jesiana Mora double and a fielding error. Mora, who made her collegiate debut with a 2-for-4 night, was then driven in by senior Sara Berthiaume.
MSU responded in the top of the third with the go-ahead run and added two more in the fifth and seventh innings.
STATS AND NOTES
- Transfer Becca Jones, in her first game with the Owls, was 2-for-2 with a double
- Berthiaume recorded the season’s first RBI while going 2-for-4 at the plate and Mora recorded a hit and a double in her first two collegiate at bats
- Senior Lynn Gardner started the game in the circle and tossed five innings, scattering 11 hits, allowed five earned runs and struck out one
- Transfer Ainsley Lambert, also playing in her first game at FAU, threw the final two innings allowing three hits, two runs, both earned and recorded a strikeout
NEXT UP
The Owls will return to action Friday, Feb. 10 facing Stony Brook at 7 p.m. The Paradise Classic Tournament action will begin at 9 a.m. Friday morning with Loyola facing Iowa. Play will continue throughout the day.
TICKETS
Fans may purchase tickets online or at FAU’s softball stadium
FOLLOW THE OWLS
For the Owls’ complete schedule, click HERE. To follow the team socially, visit @fausoftball, or for the most up-to-date information go to www.fausports.com.
