Owls Take Thrilling Doubleheader From No. 17 Louisiana

Saturday, April 23

Boca Raton, Fla.

6:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

Louisiana-Lafayette

4/23/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball

April 23, 2011

Box Score

BOCA RATON, FL - The Florida Atlantic softball team recorded its first two wins ever over Louisiana in dramatic fashion, sweeping both games of Saturday's doubleheader in extra innings.

FAU (30-22, 14-7 Sun Belt) won the first game 1-0 in ten innings. Rose Gressley and no. 17 UL's Ashley Brignac waged a terrific pitchers' duel throughout the game. The game's first hit didn't come until the bottom of the third inning and neither team had a runner reach third base until the sixth. Gressley gave up her only hit of the night in the top of the seventh.

Gressley was on second with just one out in the bottom of the ninth, but couldn't score. The international tiebreaker was implemented in the tenth, putting a runner on second to start each half inning. The Ragin' Cajuns (38-8, 13-4) could not take advantage, failing to score on two strikeouts and a lineout to left field.

Cari Curfman was placed on second in the bottom of the tenth. She advanced to third on a passed ball and scored the winning run when she beat out a throw from the third baseman on a Hailey Broyles grounder. The win was the first in series history for the Owls, who had lost the previous 14 meetings with the Ragin' Cajuns. It was also the first time this season the UL has been shut out. Gressley threw a complete game one-hitter, at one point retiring 17 straight batters.

The defensive emphasis continued in the nightcap, as through three innings both only one hit each. The Ragin' Cajuns took a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth on a homerun by Paige Cormier. FAU tied the game in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by Kerri Croney and a fielder's choice by Heather Barnes. The Owls had a chance to take the lead in that inning, but a great throw by Briana Cherry cut down Hailey Broyles at the plate, trying to score on a Gressley flyout.

UL had the go ahead run at third base in the seventh, but Taylor Fawbush was able get a strikeout to end the threat. In the bottom of the eighth, Gressley drew a walk to lead off the inning. After an unsuccessful sacrifice bunt attempt, Carly Speerin hit a 2-1 pitch over the fence in left to clinch the series for FAU. It was the Owls' second walkoff homerun in three games, after Heather Barnes beat FIU with a game winning homerun on Wednesday.

FAU will attempt the series sweep in third game of the series, at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Live stats will be available at www.fausports.com.