Florida Atlantic softball (16-6) again went without a loss this time in the Beach Chicken Brawl from Feb. 27 to Mar. 1.
With the initial game against host Coastal Carolina University canceled, the Owls made a statement with four wins in the four remaining games. As a team, the Owls outscored their opponents 30-3.
Before this tournament, FAU recently fell short, 5-9, in a tough lone matchup on Feb. 25 against a highly rated program in the University of Central Florida (20-4).
FAU vs. Binghamton (Feb. 28, 10 a.m.)
The Owls opened with a definitive victory over the Binghamton University Bearcats (1-12). In the first inning, the Bearcats managed a quick run in.
This lead would not last long with a swift four score strike soon after from the Owls, asserting their presence on the diamond. At the bottom of the first, sophomore catcher and first baseman Lily Holtje singled to left field, which advanced teammates McKenna Mulholland to third base and Kylie Hammonds to home plate.
Infielder Jessian Mora then decisively doubled on a two-RBI move, which plated teammates Holtje and Mullohand. Mora then scored herself from third base off of a wild pitch to give the Owls their early 4-1 lead.
This scoreline stood tall through the second and third innings. The fourth inning then saw the Owls add yet another four run-ins to extend their lead to a staggering 8-1 advantage. In the fifth and final inning, the Owls really flexed their feathers.
Infielder Karson Davey capitalized on heavy traffic when she crushed a homer far past left field, resulting in a three-RBI move plating herself as well as teammates Hannah Rivers and Lily Lowery. This ended the game 11-1 to the Owls, who collectively batted well with 11 runs on eight hits, four of which were doubles.
FAU vs. Coastal Carolina (Feb. 28, 3 p.m.)
Later that day, the Owls faced off against the host Coast Carolina University Chanticleers (11-8) in a more competitive game than the final score indicated. Through the first four innings, the score remained 0-0 with both teams displaying resolute defensive efforts.
It was the Chants who initially broke the deadlock at the bottom of the fifth inning. Freshman catcher Izzy Ramirez doubled to left field. After her teammate McKennah Metzger hit a sacrifice bunt out at first base, Ramirez then advanced to third base. Infielder Moira Baxter then singled to left field, which plated Ramirez to put the Chants up 1-0.
In the sixth inning, the Owls responded with a resounding six run-frame. Hammonds started the scoring streak with a homer beyond left-center field. Super-utility Destiny Johns then reached first on a fielder’s choice and made it further to second base. As a result, Mora advanced to third base, and Holtje advanced accordingly across home plate, unearned. Rivers then plated on a throwing error, also unearned.
Davey then reached first after an error from the third baseman, with Johns and Mora both scoring, each again unearned. Junior outfielder Kiley Shelton then grounded out to first base, which still resulted in a one-RBI play with teammates Cameryn Orland advancing to second and Davey plating. This ultimately put the Owls ahead 6-1.
In the seventh inning, Davey hit a strong single to plate More for her second run of the game. This completed the Owls’ late-game swing, with the game ending in a 7-1 win.
FAU vs. Binghamton (Mar. 1, 9 a.m.)
The Owls left no doubt in a rematch against Binghamton. The scoring started in the second inning with the Owls unleashing a seven-run surge.
After both Johns and infielder Yani Guzman scored, Davey then singled through the left side. This advanced teammates Hammonds to second and Foran to third while also plating catcher Chloe Yeatts.
Holtje then doubled to center field on a two-RBI move, which drove in Hammonds and Foran. Mora then hit another double to right-center field to plate Holtje. Next, Guzman kept the doubles coming when she hit one to center field to plate Mora. The 7-0 scoreline put the Owls in a commanding lead.
Still, the Owls remained unrelenting and added another run at the top of the third inning. In the fifth inning, the Owls tallied two more runs to secure the win.
Lowery reached first base on a fielder’s choice, which led Rivers across home plate. Lowery then ran herself off of a wild pitch, unearned. The Bearcats then hit a prideful homer, but it was too little too late with the game ending in a 10-1 win for the dominant Owls.
FAU vs. Saint Joseph’s (Mar. 1, 11:30 a.m.)
The Owls closed out the tournament in stride with a nail-biter victory against Saint Joseph’s University (6-9). A scoreless duel stretched across the first three innings. Each team flew around the diamond, sweeping up loose ends while the leading pitchers fanned several hitters.
In the fourth inning, it was the Owls who rose to meet the heated occasion at its highest point. Guzman struck a decisive homer down the right fielder’s line in a two-RBI play to plate herself and Lowery. This positioned the Owls with a strong 2-0 lead.
The Owls then remained diligent on the defensive front for the rest of the game. At every level of the diamond, the Owls exerted their energy to clinch the 2-0 win in addition to their consecutive undefeated tournament.
Decorated senior pitcher Autumn Courtney impressed in steering the FAU defense. She managed the entire workload in this game, pitching through all seven innings. Courtney only allowed three total hits over the course of the entire shutout. She also registered four strikeouts to cap off a compelling performance.
The in-form Owls look to extend their exceptional 11-0 home record with a rematch at the Joan Joyce Field against Florida Gulf Coast University (5-13) on March 4 at 6 p.m.
Jacob Weeks is a Staff Writer for the University Press. Email him at [email protected] for more information on this or other stories.
