BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University softball team (1-5) opened the 2021 home season at the FAU “Strike Out Cancer” Tournament, but their good intentions were stalled with a 10-1 loss to Ole Miss and a 6-3 loss to Iowa State.
The Owls opened the day versus Ole Miss with beautiful skies and the hope of building upon last weekend’s hitting momentum, but the Owls spotted Ole Miss two runs in the top of the first, pulled the tarps for a brief rain delay, and then saw the Rebels add an additional two runs in the second. FAU responded with one and cruised through the third only to give up six runs over the next two frames for the 10-1 (5) Ole Miss final.
In the second game of the day, it was more of the same with FAU giving up runs in the first and third, but the Owls responded with two runs in the bottom of the fourth to tie the contest for the first time. One inning later, the game was tied at three, but FAU couldn’t hold giving up a run in the fifth and two in the sixth, while the ISU closer kept the Owls hitless in the game’s final two innings.
JOYCE’S THOUGHTS
“I thought our pitching (this weekend compared to last) was a little bit better,” said Joan Joyce, FAU’s head coach. “But we ran into a huge buzzsaw with these two teams because they just creamed the ball, even though the pitchers pitched pretty well.”
On fighting back and closing the door
On the night
“We talked about that. They put people on base and get the base hit that counts and we put people on and don’t get the base hit that counts. That will come. On a hole, if my pitchers can get a little bit better, I think we are going to be okay. It is just that we are playing such tough competition that it is just hard.”
STATISTICALLYGame #1
- Singles were recorded by Sommer Baker (1-for-2), Zoey Jones (1-1) and Gretchen Ebert (1-for-2)
- Jones record the team’s lone RBI
- Lynn Gardner tossed 4.1 innings and took the loss, allowing nine hits and seven runs, five of which were earned
- Kara Lokeinsky finished the fifth, allowing three runs, all of which were earned
Game #2
- Baker was 2-for-4 and recorded multiple hits in the game, as did Kaitlyn Burke who was 2-for-4 with two RBI
- Kaitlyn Cunningham (1-for-4) added the team’s fifth hit, a triple, and Maya Amm earned a RBI
- Donnie Gobourne started for the Owls and took the loss after 5.1 innings of work
- Abigail Morgan saw her first work of 2021, pitching 1.2 innings and allowed three hits, a run and recording one strike out
WHAT’S NEXT
The Owls will return to the field on Saturday to face the same two teams. The first game will feature FAU versus ISU at 2:30 and the second game will see the Owls face Ole Miss. To follow FAU and for the most up-to-date schedule visit FAUSports.com or follow the team on twitter @FAUSoftball.
