Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Florida Atlantic
FIU
FIU 4, FAU 3
3/23/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 23, 2001
BOCA RATON - Florida Atlantic University won two of its three games on the first day of action at the FAU Parents Weekend Invitational in Boca Raton. The Lady Owls improved to 29-10 on the season.
FAU, ranked no. 28, began the day with a 4-3 loss in eight innings to in-state rival Florida International University. The Lady Panthers scored the first run in the top of the first before FAU's Kristen Stanley tied the game with a homer in the bottom of the first. Meanwhile, Kristie Picon held FIU scoreless for the next six innings.
The two teams entered the eighth playing under the international tie breaker rule. FIU scored three in the top of the inning, forcing FAU to play catch-up once again. The Lady Owls' comeback effort fell short with just two runs in the bottom of the inning. Picon (6-2) suffered the loss for FAU.
Florida Atlantic captured the second game behind a seven inning, two-hit performance by Chris Sutcliffe. The senior, who improved to 9-1 on the season, was given a lift by Ninya Ybarra fourth inning homer.Ybarra was 3-for-4 for the game. Amy Bellisari added a double for FAU.
Against Michigan State, Ybarra led-off the top of the first with a solo homer to left field to give FAU an early 1-0 lead. The score remained that way until the seventh when FAU drove across two more runs to take a 3-0 lead. The Lady Owls would fight off an MSU rally in the bottom of the seventh to take the 3-1 victory.
Nicole Myers (14-7) picked up the victory, allowing one run and striking out 15. She also went 3-for-4 at the plate, including her team-leading 13th homer of the season. The long ball also broke an FAU single-season mark she set her freshman season.
FAU will play just one game Saturday as they face Florida at 4:00pm.
