Two More Wins Tie Softball's Best Start Since 1998

Saturday, February 21

Boca Raton, Fla.

4:45 PM

Florida Atlantic

12-2

Albany

2-2

Florida Atlantic

Albany

2/21/2015 11:44:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

Box Score Feb. 21, 2015

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. -

Albany Box Score (PDF)

UNF Box Score (PDF)

Florida Atlantic University's softball team earned a 10-1 win over Albany and an 8-4 comeback victory against North Florida on Saturday night to tie the team's best start since 1998 of 13-1.

The Owls' bats started off strong in the first inning of the Albany game with the team earning five of its 10 runs. Leadoff batter Lindsey Shell was hit by a pitch, stole second, advanced to third off a bunt single by Christina Martinez and then stole home for the team's first run. Carnesha Thompson comes up and hits a single through the left side to advance Christina Martinez to second and both runners move up off a bunt single by Emily Lochten. Melissa Martinez, who currently has the team's highest batting average with .458, doubles to right center to score all three runners. Melissa Martinez would then go onto score the final run of the inning off a fielding error by the Great Danes' center fielder.

FAU would score two more in the top of the third after Lochten hit a triple to center and Melissa Martinez hit her fourth home run of the year to bring them both home. Albany would score one run in the bottom of the third.

Melissa Martinez drove in the eighth run in the top of the fifth off a triple to center to score Lochten. The Owls final two runs came in the top of the sixth. Delaney Rickey started the team off with a bunt single to the third base side and advanced to second off Shell's single to left. Christina Martinez singled through the right side to score Rickey and advance Shell to third. Thompson then had a sacrifice fly to left field to score Shell.

Kylee Hanson was in the circle for the Owls and has improved her record to 3-0. She had eight strikeouts, three walks, and only gave up three hits against Albany.

It was a battle between North Florida and FAU in the team's second game of the night. The Ospreys struck first with a run in the first inning. They went on to score two more with two outs in the top of the second off of three singles and an error by second baseman Tatum Buckley. Samantha Messer came in to relieve Amanda Wilson and get the final out in the top of the second.

FAU answered in the third inning, tying the score 3-3. Leading off was left fielder Shell who singled to left field. She advanced off a single to right by Christina Martinez but was caught at third off a bunt by Thompson. With one out, Christina Martinez and Thompson stole second and third and both came in to score off Lochten's single to right field. Laura Mann saw her first hit of the game in a double to right field, which would bring home Lochten.

UNF would take a 4-3 lead in the top of the fifth, but the Owls quickly answered. Facing a new UNF pitcher in the bottom of the fifth, Thompson started another rally with a bunt to third that she beat out. She would take second on an illegal pitch and advance to third off a sacrifice fly by Melissa Martinez. Another illegal pitch by Janet Snipe would score Thompson and tie things up. Sarah Howell, who came in to pinch run for Mann who had been hit by a pitch, advanced to second on that same illegal pitch. The Ospreys brought in a new pitcher, but the Owls were ready with Alex Millersingling to shortstop to advance Howell to third. A double steal would bring Howell home and Miller to third after she had previously stolen second. Buckley singled to third and advanced to third on a throwing. The single scored Miller, and a single by Rickey followed. Rickey advanced on another error by the North Florida third baseman, which would score Buckley and end the inning with FAU up 7-4.

The eighth run would come in the bottom of the sixth off a Melissa Martinez single to score Thompson. The Owls had a total of 12 hits from nine players with Christina Martinez leading the way with three. Lochten is credited with two RBIs and has the second most on the team thus far with 10. Messer remained strong in the circle with five strikeouts, no walks, and only giving up three hits. The senior is now a perfect 4-0 on the season.

The Owls will head to Baton Rouge, La. Next week to take part in the Purple and Gold Challenge hosted by LSU. The team's first appearance will be on Friday, Feb. 27 in a doubleheader against Stephen F. Austin at 11 a.m. then Northwestern at 1:30 p.m. They will also play LSU and Ball State during the tournament.