Owls Fall to USF in Regional Final

Sunday, May 21

Gainesville, Fla.

12:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

USF

5/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball

May 21, 2006

Box Score

GAINESVILLE, FL - Florida Atlantic University saw its season come to a close on Sunday 7-4 against the University of South Florida in the finals of the 2006 NCAA Softball Gainesville Regional.

The Owls set a team record with 12 hits in a postseason game and scored four runs or more for the first time in its last 14 postseason outings. Junior Jen Musillo (Tequesta, Fla.), who threw 22 2/3 innings in four regional games, took the loss, ending the season at 12-9 while striking out eight.

FAU trailed 7-0 entering the bottom of the seventh and showed the fight that was typical of the team down the stretch, scoring four runs on four hits. Junior Shauna Corso (Seal Beach, Calif.), senior Danielle Arriaga (Miami, Fla.) and freshman Kala Guy (Hollywood, Fla.) all singled and scored in the inning.

Junior Jenna Lopez (Orangeburg, N.Y.) was hit by a pitch and eventually scored the Owls' first run of the game. Classmate Mandie Fishback (Banks, Ore.) also had a hit in the inning, with pinch runner Marlene Lopez (Orangeburg, N.Y.) scoring for Fishback.

Fishback, Guy and sophomore Lauren Crandall (DeLand, Fla.) collected an RBI each. Crandall finished the game with a season-high three hits and reached base safely in all four plate appearances.

Jenna Lopez had two hits in the game. Senior Jessica Sachs (Chestnut Ridge, N.Y.), who closed her career with a school-record 842 at-bats, recorded a double.

"South Florida found a way to take advantage of its opportunities, and we contributed to their success by not making the plays at key moments," stated head coach Joan Joyce. "Overall, we are very proud of what our team accomplished this weekend and throughout the season. We are very excited to see what next season brings."

USF totaled 11 hits and scored two runs in the first, three in the third and solo runs in both the fifth and sixth innings. Christi Ecks (24-11) got the win for the Bulls, who advance to face the winner of the Los Angeles Regional next weekend.

Florida Atlantic closes the season at 35-25, its 11th consecutive season of 35 wins or more.