Owls Edged by no. 3 Alabama

Tuesday, April 3

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

7:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

Alabama

4/3/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball

April 3, 2007

Box Score

TUSCALOOSA, AL - Jen Musillo threw a three-hitter for the Florida Atlantic University softball team but no. 3 Alabama scored a run in the sixth to take a competitive but strange game, 1-0 at the Alabama Softball Complex.

Musillo worked around four walks and a hit batter through the first two innings before retiring the side in order in the third. She allowed a two-out double but picked up her first two strikeouts of the ball game in the fourth and retired the side in order in the fifth.

The Owls had runners on second and third with one out in the second after back-to-back singles by Becky Brandies and Amy Bukovich put runners on the corners. Bukovich then stole second to put two runners in scoring position. Melissa Moore would ground out to third, and on the throw Brandies tried to score from third but was gunned down at the plate.

FAU would muster just one hit over the next three innings, but in the top of the sixth, the game took a strange and unfortunate twist for the Owls. Charlotte Baird led off with a single to center and was lifted for pinch runner Amber Barton. Ambar Jones laid down a sacrifice bunt, but on the play Barton was interfered with on her way to second. The umpire first ruled the play dead, awarding both runners a base to put runners on first and second with nobody out.

But, after an argument from the Alabama dugout and a conference between the umpires, the crew ruled Jones out because they felt Alabama would have completed the play at first despite the fact that following the interference call, Alabama threw the ball to second base.

So instead of runners on first and second with no outs, it became a runner on second with one out. Jenna Lopez then walked and stole second to put runners on second and third with one out. FAU would be unable to push a run across, however, and strand two runners in scoring position.

The Owls would not be so fortunate in the bottom half of the inning, when the Crimson Tide got a double and a single to lead off its half of the sixth to put runners on the corners with no outs. A sacrifice fly to left would score the game's first run and give UA a 1-0 lead. Musillo would enduce an inning-ending double play on a line drive to get out of further trouble, but the Owls would be retired in order in the seventh.

Musillo (10-8) allowed three hits and one run, walked five and struck out three.

FAU (23-16) will travel tomorrow to Auburn, AL to face the Tigers in a non-conference battle. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m., eastern.