BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – More firsts came this weekend when the Florida Atlantic University Owls earned a Conference USA series win for first-year head coach Jordan Clark on Saturday.
The first Saturday game was scoreless through six innings, in part due to an outstanding mound performance by sophomore Gabby Sacco. While Sacco would earn her fifth shutout performance of 2023, the FAU bats came alive in the top of the seventh to score the only two runs the Owls would need to win their second game in Birmingham and take the 2-0 win over host UAB.
Game two of the day, and third of the series, saw the Owls fall to UAB by the score of 7-0. FAU moves to 18-8 on the year and 2-1 in C-USA play.
GAME ONE
The two teams were in a scoreless battle until the top of the seventh. Olivia Peterson led off with an infield single. Peterson was sacrificed to second by Maya Amm and was driven in on a miss played Riley Ennis hit to center field. Ennis then scored an insurance run on a Sommer Baker double.
Sacco, who allowed just two hits, two walks and struck out three, closed out the bottom of the final frame by the Owls turning two and catching a deep foul ball to left.
NOTES/NOTABLE
- Peterson and Cammeo Presutti were the Owls that earned multiple hits. Peterson was one of the two Owls to score
- Becca Jones was 1-for-1 in the game and Baker was 1-for-3 with her third double of the season and an RBI
- Ennis scored a run and drove one in
- Sacco moved to 9-2 on the year, allowing no runs in the game. The right-handed pitcher has only given up two runs in her last 32 innings of work
GAME TWO
After an emotional first game win, the Owls’ offense was held at bay in the second game of the day and final game of the three-game series. UAB scored four runs in the third, added two in the fifth and one run in the sixth. FAU recorded four hits and had just one inning with multiple hits, the third.
NOTES/NOTABLE
- Four Owls recorded a hit and none for extra bases
- Presutti, Mora, Berthiaume and Becca Jones were each 1-for-3
- Ainsley Lambert started the game for FAU, taking the loss after three innings of work and allowing four earned runs
- Lynn Gardner took over in the fourth, saw three unearned runs scored and scattered three hits
NEXT UP
The Owls will host Charlotte next weekend with a weekend series starting at 6 p.m. Friday, March 17.
TICKETS
Fans may purchase tickets online or at FAU’s softball stadium
FOLLOW THE OWLS
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