Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Softball Splits on Saturday, to Play Two on Sunday
2/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
BOCA Raton, FL - Florida Atlantic University's softball team split its Saturday action. The Owls dropped the first game to Kansas 7-6, despite an Owl six-run rally in the bottom of the seventh and then downed Georgia Tech 2-0 in the final game of the night.
FAU spotted Kansas four runs in the top of the first on two hits but committed two errors and gave up a walk. The Jayhawks tacked on two more in the fourth and another in the six before the Owls' bats came alive with five of their seven hits in the bottom half of the seventh.
Laura Mann got things started when she was hit by a pitch. Sarah Howell was inserted for Mann and moved to second on a single to right by Delaney Rickey. With runners on first and second and one out. FAU, which returned to the top, saw Lindsey Shell load the bases with a single to right. Christina Martinez then drove in the Owls first run of the game with a single up the middle. The Jayhawks retired the next batter but saw FAU plate the second run of the inning via a RBI single by Emily Lochten. A line drive grand slam by Melissa Martinez followed to pull the Owls within one. A ground out to ended the threat and improve Kansas to 4-0 on the season while FAU fell to 1-1.
Amanda Wilson drew her first start of 2015. She worked five innings, allowed all seven runs, only three earned, on eight hits and fell to 0-1. Wilson walked two and retired three on the night. She was relieve by Tatum Buckley, who pitched two innings of scoreless ball. Buckley allowed three hits, struck out three and walked none. Offensively Delaney Rickey was 3-for-3 in the game while Melissa Martinez was 1-for-4 with four RBI. Christina Martinez and Lochten drove in the remaining runs. FAU then faced Georgia Tech. Kylee Hanson drew the start for the Owls. Hanson picked up her first win of the young season scattering four hits and two walks while retiring five by strikeout. The young hurler tossed 113 pitches in the complete game shutout.
Offensively, FAU, which were the guest, jumped on the board in the top of the second by capitalizing on Yellow Jacket errors. The Owls would add another in the top of the fourth with small ball. With one out Laura Mann was hit by a pitch. Kiley Southall was inserted as the runner at first and was sacrificed to second. Southeall advanced to third on a GT error and then scored the Owls second and final run of the game on a wild pitch.
FAU will return to action on Sunday when the Owls play host to the final day of the Kick-off Classic facing Long Island-Brooklyn and completing Friday's game versus Penn State. All FAU can be followed via game tracker at www.fausports.com.
