Owls' Jenna Lopez Hits First Two Career Home Runs

Friday, March 17

Boca Raton, Fla.

6:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

Chattanooga

3/18/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball

March 18, 2006

Final Stats

BOCA RATON, FL - Junior Jenna Lopez (Orangeburg, N.Y.) found sporting a green uniform for St. Patrick's Day to her liking as the Florida Atlantic University softball team split two games on Friday at the 2006 FAU Parents' Weekend Tournament at FAU Softball Stadium.

Lopez crushed her first two career home runs during the double dip, blasting a two-run bomb over the scoreboard in right field in a 3-2 loss to UT-Chattanooga in the opener. She connected on a three-run shot in the Owls' 10-7 win over Massachusetts in the nightcap.

With the Owls trailing 3-0 in the fifth against UTC, Lopez plated twin sister Marlene Lopez (Orangeburg, N.Y.) with her first career blast. Marlene pinch ran for sophomore Charlotte Baird (Hendersonville, Tenn.) following her walk to open the inning.

Chattanooga (18-17) scored solo runs in the first, second and fifth innings. The Mocs were shot down at home by Owls sophomore Lauren Crandall (DeLand, Fla.) on two occasions during the first five innings, ending the second and fifth innings with runners attempting to score from second on singles to left.

Florida Atlantic was unable to generate any further threats in the final two innings against Ashley Frizzell (9-9), who struck out three, walked two and surrendered six hits. Junior Jen Musillo (Tequesta, Fla.) took the loss after allowing two runs on six hits in three innings, falling to 5-4 on the year.

Florida Atlantic 10, Massachusetts 7

Final Stats

Florida Atlantic quickly fell behind against UMass as well, trailing 2-0 after two innings. After the Owls knotted the score in the top of the third, the Minutewomen reclaimed a 3-2 advantage entering the fourth.

Five consecutive Owls reached base to open the top of the fourth, with singles by junior Mandie Fishback (Banks, Ore.), freshman Christine Houghtaling (Miami, Fla.) and Baird, mixing in a walk by junior Shauna Corso (Seal Beach, Calif.). Houghtaling's RBI hit and a wild pitch scored the first two runs of the inning for Florida Atlantic, opening the door to Lopez's second home run of the night.

The Owls left the fourth with a 7-3 lead and held a 7-4 advantage moving into the final stanza. Florida Atlantic pushed three more runs across the plate in the seventh, runs that would prove valuable in the end.

After consecutive strikeouts to start the seventh, five consecutive singles from Fishback, Corso, Houghtaling, Baird and Jenna Lopez produced three runs for Florida Atlantic, with Houghtaling knocking in one and Baird two. Baird and Lopez were stranded to end the inning but the damage was done, allowing FAU to hold on when UMass scored three runs of its own in the bottom of the seventh.

Freshman Kathryn Stauffer (Pembroke Pines, Fla.) moved to 4-10 on the year, allowing six runs, four earned, two walks and striking out four in six innings for Florida Atlantic (11-15). Jenna Busa fell to 1-6 after surrendering seven earned runs on nine hits in 3 1/3 innings for the Minutewomen (8-9).

Jenna Lopez finished with three hits, two runs and three RBIs against UMass, while Fishback and Corso each scored twice. Houghtaling totaled three hits, two runs and two RBIs, freshman Becky Brandies (Madison, Fla.) knocked in two and scored once and Baird added a run and two RBIs.

Florida Atlantic is back in action on Saturday evening at 6:00 p.m. against Connecticut and 8:00 p.m. against North Carolina.

Friday, March 17th
Game 1: UT-Chattanooga 3, Michigan State 2
Game 2: Michigan State 3, Connecticut 1
Game 3: North Carolina 3, Connecticut 2
Game 4: Massachusetts 4, North Carolina 0
Game 5: UT-Chattanooga 3, Florida Atlantic 2
Game 6: Florida Atlantic 10, Massachusetts 7

Saturday, March 18th
9:00 am North Carolina vs Michigan State
11:00 am Michigan State vs UMass
1:00 pm UMass vs UT-Chattanooga
4:00 pm UT-Chattanooga vs UConn
6:00 pm UConn vs Florida Atlantic
8:00 pm Florida Atlantic vs North Carolina

Sunday, March 19th
9:00 am 5 vs 6
11:00 am 3 vs 4
1:00 pm 1 vs 2