BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University softball team split a pair of games on day one of the Joan Joyce Classic Friday. The Owls are paying tribute to the legend and their longtime coach throughout the weekend. Prior to tonight’s win over Villanova, Joan’s brother Joey threw out the ceremonial first pitch.
The Owls fell in the first game to Boston College in a pitcher’s duel, 2-1, before bouncing back to defeat Villanova by a 5-2 score.
GAME ONE
Ainsley Lambert provided an excellent start against the Eagles, going the complete seven innings and allowing only one earned run on six hits. Lambert struck out five and walked only one.
Boston College broke through with two runs in the top of the fourth inning, but the Owls cut it in half in the next half. Sara Berthiaume blasted a solo home run to center field, which was her first of the 2023 campaign.
In the fifth inning, FAU put a runner in scoring position when Sommer Baker singled. Cammeo Presutti reached on an error and advanced Baker to second, yet the Owls’ rally ended there and BC held on with the 2-1 win.
GAME TWO
Game two against Villanova started as another pitcher’s dual, as Gabby Sacco was strong in the circle. The Owls and Wildcats went scoreless through four and a half.
Berthiaume got on with a bloop single over third base, then Olivia Peterson blasted an RBI double to the left center field gap. After a Becca Jones groundout, Riley Olson reached on an error and Peterson scored.
FAU strung four hits together in the fourth, as an RBI single from Baker made it a 3-0 ballgame.
The Wildcats pushed over two in the fifth, but the Owls countered with a two-spot of their own. Berthiaume knocked one in with an RBI base hit, then Jones drove in Berthiaume with an RBI double to right field.
Lynn Gardner threw the final two innings for the save, her second of the young season. Sacco earned the win to improve to 3-2, throwing five strong with only one earned run, five strikeouts and only one walk.
UP NEXT
The Owls will continue the Joan Joyce Classic tomorrow, with two games, the first against North Carolina at 11:30 a.m. and the second against Boston College at 4:30 p.m.
FOLLOW FAU ON SOCIAL MEDIA
To stay up to date on all things FAU softball, follow the Owls on social media @FAUSoftball.
