Owls Win Miken Classic Championship

Sunday, March 2

Boca Raton, Fla.

1:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

Illinois

3/2/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball

March 2, 2008

Final Stats

BOCA RATON, FL - The Florida Atlantic softball team defeated Illinois 3-2 in the Championship Game of the Miken Classic on Sunday. It is the first time FAU has won a tournament at home since it clinched the 2004 Parents' Weekend title.

The Owls (11-10) had several chances to score in the early going against the Illini, but were unable to capitalize. Illinois took a 1-0 lead the bottom of the third inning on a Hollie Pinchback RBI double. FAU finally broke through in the top of the sixth inning when a Jessica Myers single and a Melissa Moore walk drove in two runs to give the Owls a 2-1 lead. Illinois responded in the bottom of the sixth when Pinchback scored on a Hope Howell double.

FAU answered in the top of the seventh when Ambar Jones scored on an Ashlyn Parmerter groundout to retake the lead. Amber Barton retired the Illini in order in the bottom of the seventh to seal the win. Barton threw her eighth complete game of the season in the win. Owl first baseman Melissa Moore was named Tournament MVP. In other Championship Sunday action, Central Michigan defeated Tennessee State 10-1 in the fifth-place game and Rutgers edged Bethune-Cookman 3-2 in the third-place game.

The Owls return to action on Friday when they host the Miken Invitational. All of the weekend's games will be available via GameTracker and live play-by-play of all of FAU's games will be available at fausports.com.