BOCA RATON, Fla. – The FAU softball team earned its first Conference USA series sweep since 2018 in exciting fashion on Sunday. The Owls captured a walk-off win to defeat Louisiana Tech, 4-3, in a back-and-forth ballgame.
With two on base in a 3-3 game in the seventh inning, Riley Olson slapped a base hit that got past the diving LA Tech shortstop and into left field. Pinch runner Maddie Carlock motored around third base and slid into home to give FAU the wild win.
The Owls are now only one win away from making history. One more victory will give FAU head coach Joan Joyce 1,000 wins in her career, and Joyce would become just the 40th coach all-time in NCAA history to reach that milestone. FAU will go for history at North Texas, with the series beginning Friday, March 18.
FAU (14-13, 3-0 C-USA) held a 3-1 lead, but LA Tech (15-11, 0-3 C-USA) got even with two in the sixth, which set up the dramatic finish. In the bottom of the seventh, Zoey Jones worked a walk, then was pinch run for by Carlock. Myah Murray worked a walk, then Olson delivered the clutch, walk-off, opposite field single to give FAU the win. The Owls have also surpassed their win total from all of 2021, which was 12.
Maya Amm ripped her first career home run, which was a solo shot to left field in the fifth inning. Amm was leading off and turned on the first pitch she saw. Her solo shot turned out to be critical, as it gave FAU a 3-1 lead heading into the final innings.
Donnie Gobourne was terrific as the starting pitcher for the Owls but wound up with a no decision. In five innings, Gobourne struck out nine batters and allowed just four hits. Gobourne tallied six consecutive outs via the punch out through the second and third innings.
Olivia Peterson recorded the first two runs of the day with a bases-loaded double to right in the second inning.
Jones went 2-2 with two walks and a run scored, and she extended her hitting streak to six games. Sara Berthiaume stretched her hitting streak to 13 games as well today.
FAU will go for history in the Lone Star State next weekend. The Owls are set to travel to North Texas for a three-game set starting on Friday night at 7 p.m. eastern.
