BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic softball team did it again. The Owls used another walk-off win after a comeback to steal one from UTSA. This time, the Owls won 4-3, one day removed from a wild 11-10 comeback win after being down 10-3 entering the seventh inning. The Owls trailed today 3-0 as late as the sixth inning.
FAU extended its winning streak to five games. Today marked the final home game for the Owls of the 2022 season, and FAU closed out the year with a 19-14 mark in Paradise.
QUOTES FROM COACH“There’s no quit in our team,” interim head coach Chan Walker said. “All season long, no amount of runs have been too big to come back from. They have that fight in them. They believe in each other, and that’s really what it is right now, believing that someone is going to pull through and get the key hit or make the big play. I’m happy for them, and I’m proud of them. They compete every single time they step on the field.”
COMEBACK KIDS STRIKE AGAINFAU (27-22, 14-7 C-USA) trailed UTSA (16-28, 9-11 C-USA) 3-0 after the first inning. That score held up until the sixth. Cammeo Presutti, Zoey Jones and Myah Murray each worked a walk to load up the bases. The UTSA catcher attempted a snap throw to first base that was dropped by the Roadrunners first baseman, and the ball trickled into right field. The Owls were heads up on the base paths, as Presutti and Jones came around to score.
In the seventh, Olivia Peterson worked a leadoff walk. After Maya Amm grounded out, Sommer Baker came up to the plate with Cameryn Orland pinch running on first. Baker laid down a bunt that went back to the UTSA pitcher, and she threw it away into right field. The ball went all the way into the far right field corner. Orland came around to score and Baker motored around the bases and came all the way around to score and give FAU another wild win.
GARDNER GOES THE DISTANCELynn Gardner threw her 19th complete game in the circle to improve to 16-7. Gardner allowed three runs in the first inning, but was in control the rest of the way. UTSA had only three hits on Gardner after the first inning.
SENIOR DAYPrior to the game, the Owls held Senior Day to honor Gardner, Murray, Amm, Abigail Morgan, Ashley Stephenson and Donnie Gobourne for their contributions to the programs the last few years. These Owls have been a part of 67 wins over the course of the last few seasons.
OWLS TIED FOR FIRST PLACEThere is currently a three-way tie atop the Conference USA East standings. FAU, WKU and Marshall all have a 14-7 conference mark heading into the final weekend of play. The Owls will travel to Charlotte for a three-game set from May 6-8.
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