SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Florida Atlantic University softball team clubbed its way to a 10-5 victory over UTSA on Friday in game one of the series. The Owls’ bats came alive, as Florida Atlantic put up 10 runs on 10 hits, which marks the most runs in a game since March 31.
Riley Ennis blew the game open with a grand slam in the second inning that made it a 9-1 Owl lead. The round-tripper was Ennis’ fifth of the season and her second grand slam of the year.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Florida Atlantic offense wasted no time, scoring three in the first inning. Sara Berthiaume returned to the starting lineup for the first time since March 17 because of an injury. Berthiaume led off with a base hit that was followed by singles by Cammeo Presutti and Jesiana Mora. With the bases juiced, Olivia Peterson was hit by a pitch, then Presutti scored on a passed ball. Maya Amm pushed the third run over with a sac fly.
The Roadrunners pushed one over in the first, but the Owl offense countered in the second. Mora knocked in another with an RBI single, then Peterson worked another bases-loaded walk. With two outs, Ennis blasted the grand slam to center which made it a 9-1 lead.
UTSA stuck in there, and drew within striking distance by way of a three-run homer in the fourth that made it a 9-5 ballgame. Ainsley Lambert entered in relief of starter Lynn Gardner, and Lambert tossed a perfect last three innings, allowing no runs, no hits and no walks while striking out four.
STATS & NOTES
- Three Owls recorded multiple hits, led by Berthiaume’s 3-5, RBI effort
- Presutti went 2-4 with two runs scored while Mora went 2-5 with two runs scored and an RBI
- Ennis went 1-4 with the grand slam and the subsequent four RBI, while Peterson also tallied a 1-3, two RBI night and added a run scored
- Becca Jones went 1-2 with two walks and two runs scored
- Gardner got the win, her ninth of the season, while Lambert tallied her third save of the campaign
GAME TWO TOMORROW
The Owls and Roadrunners will compete in game two of the final regular-season series tomorrow at 2 p.m. eastern time.
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