Softball Splits First Conference Games Against LA Tech

Saturday, March 14

Ruston, La.

3:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

20-6-1, 1-0

Louisiana Tech

15-6, 0-1

Florida Atlantic

Louisiana Tech

3/14/2015 11:49:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

Box Score March 14, 2015

Box Score

RUSTON, La. -

FAU vs. LA Tech Game 1 Box

FAU vs. LA Tech Game 2 Box

Facing their first Conference USA opponent this season, Florida Atlantic University softball split the day with a 5-4 win and a 6-1 loss against Louisiana Tech on Saturday.

"In the first game we had some clutch hitting...a big homerun and two doubles from Laura Mann," said Joan Joyce, head coach. "Kylee (Hanson) did a great job coming in relief for Amanda to put the game away."

"The second game you have to give credit to them as the pitcher pitched very well against us," continued Joyce. "The game totally changed when we the triple play call was reversed and the next batter hit a grand slam. We fought back and got runners on base, but we couldn't get them in because of the superb pitching from Allen."

Laura Mann and Carnesha Thompson were the heroes of the first game as the senior went 3-for-3 with a three-run homer and the junior went 3-for-4 with a two-run homerun that would clinch the 5-4 win for the Owls. Amanda Wilsonbegan in the circle, but Kylee Hanson took over in the bottom of the fourth and kept the Lady Techsters at bay with eight strikeouts, one walk, and only giving up three hits.

The Owls couldn't get the offense going in the second game of the day with only four hits coming from Christina Martinez, Thompson, Emily Lochten and Tatum Buckley. Samantha Messer pitched six innings with two strikeouts, two walks, and giving up 10 hits.

The Lady Techsters were on the board first with one run in the bottom of the first. The Owls would tie the game 1-1 in the top of the third off a Thomson triple to center field to score Christina Martinez. LA Tech would answer in the bottom of the third off of two hits.

The bats really came around for FAU in the top of the fifth. With one out, Thompson homered to left center. Lochten singled to left and stole second. Bell walked to put runners on first and second, and they were driven in by Mann's third hit of the game, which was a homerun down the right field line. The Lady Techsters would bring the score within one in the bottom of the fifth but would be held off by the FAU defense and three strikeouts by Hanson within the sixth and seventh innings.

LA Tech began the second game with one run in the bottom of the first. It would be a defensive battle for the next three innings with no score as the Owls left one on and the Lady Techsters left three runners on base. LA Tech would load the bases off of three bunt singles in the bottom of the fifth. A reversed triple play call that initially ended the inning would be reversed and Pauline Tufi would hit a grand slam to bring the score to 5-0.

The Owls would attempt a comeback in the top of the sixth starting off with a bunt single by Christina Martinez. She was advanced off a sacrifice bunt by Thompson and would come home from a Lochten single up the middle to bring the score to 5-1. LA Tech would score one more before the end of the game to bring the final score to 6-1.

FAU will face LA Tech for the final game of the three-game series on Sunday, March 15 at 1 p.m. ET. Live stats will be available via Gametracker on fausports.com. You can also catch all the action on Twitter by following @fauowlssoftball.