Owls Earn Split on Day Two of Miken Invitational

Saturday, February 10

Boca Raton, Fla.

6:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

Pittsburgh

2/10/2007 1:12:00 PM | Softball

Feb. 10, 2007

Box Score

BOCA RATON, FL -- Power drove Florida Atlantic University's softball team into Championship Sunday with a 5-0 victory over Pittsburgh but wasn't enough to overcome a five-run eighth inning by the South Carolina Gamecocks at FAU Softball Stadium late Saturday night.

The extra inning game was the third consecutive of the tournament's night. South Carolina jumped out in front 2-0 after one inning. Three singles and two fielders choices led to the runs.

FAU freshman starting pitcher Amber Barton settled into the game and held USC scoreless through the next six innings, but was roughed up in the extra frame for five runs.

The Owls remained scoreless through three. Shortstop Blair Bodenmiller led off the fourth with a deep homer to left. Her home run ignited the Owls as Becky Brandies then singled to left moved to second on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on a double by Barton.

The two teams then traded outs until they entered the top of the eighth when they began international tiebreaker. The Owls got two runs back in the bottom of the eighth on a Mandie Fishback home run to left center.

Kate Pouliot (3-0) got the win in relief for USC while Barton (0-1) went the distance and took the loss for FAU. She threw eight innings, giving up nine hits, seven runs (six earned), three walks and three strikeouts in her collegiate pitching debut.

Against Pittsburgh, the Owls scored a single run in the second to take an early 1-0 lead. Becky Brandies led off the inning with a triple off the right field fence and eventually scored on a Charlotte Baird single to short.

FAU extended the lead to 3-0 in the third on a one-out homer by Jen Musillo. The Owls would get two more in the sixth following back to back walks issued to Brandies and Barton. A wild pitch, passed ball and a Vanessa Suarez single later, FAU had a 5-0 lead.

Kathry Stauffer (1-0) got her first start of the season and worked seven innings, allowing four hits and retired four via the strike out to pick up the team's third victory of the season.

FAU and USC will rematch tomorrow in the tournament's championship round at 1 p.m., in the championship game of the Miken Invitational.