Softball Sweeps WKU on Senior Day

Saturday, April 28

Boca Raton, Fla.

4:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

24-23, 0

WKU

26-21, 0

WKU

Florida Atlantic

The Owls recognized their seniors prior to Saturday's first game.

4/28/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

April 28, 2018

Final Stats

BOCA RATON, Fla. -

The Florida Atlantic University softball team broke out of its recent offensive slump with a pair of impressive offensive displays, defeating WKU 10-7 and 13-12 to sweep a doubleheader on Saturday. It was Senior Day at FAU Softball Stadium and the Owls recognized their seniors before the first game.

Game 1

Key Plays

WKU (26-22, 9-11 Conference USA) scored three runs in the top of the first inning, but the Owls (25-23, 12-7) answered right back with six runs of their own in the bottom half. Emily Lochten led off with a double, followed by a Madisyn Palmer single. Lochten beat out a throw to the plate on a Samantha Lageyre bunt, followed by a passed ball that allowed Palmer to score. Tatum Buckley drove in Lageyre with a base hit to center to tie the game. With two on later in the inning, Jolie Duffner's RBI single scored Lauren Whitt to give the Owls the lead. After an Alex Miller single loaded the bases, Lochten came up to bat for the second time in the inning. Her single up the middle scored Duffner and Mia Olson for the final runs of the frame. Heads up base running helped FAU plate three more runs in the third inning, as both Miller and Lochten scored on a fielding error by the WKU first baseman, while Palmer scored from second on a Lageyre infield single. A grand slam by the Hilltoppers' Jordan Thomas cut the lead to 9-7 in the fourth inning, but they would get no closer. Lochten scored on another Lageyre infield single in the fifth for the final tally of the contest.

Notables

Tatum Buckley threw a complete game, giving up six hits and just three earned runs for her 12^th win of the season.
Five Owls recorded multiple hits in the game, led by Emily Lochten, who went 4-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBI.
Lochten's four hits tied a school record for most in a game.
Samantha Lageyre had three RBI and scored a run, to go along with a pair of hits.
Tatum Buckley also laced two hits, as did Lauren Whitt and Alex Miller.
The 15 hits in the game for the Owls tied their season high.

Game 2

Key Plays

FAU struck quickly once again, scoring two runs in the first on a Lageyre triple and Buckley squeeze bunt. The Hilltoppers counterpunched with six in the top of the second to take the lead. The Owls began chipping away at the deficit in the third, when Lochten scored on a Lageyre single and Palmer scored on a sacrifice bunt by Buckley, trimming the lead to 6-4. Mia Olson's solo homerun in the fourth narrowed the margin to a run, but a three-run top of the fifth reestablished the cushion at 9-5. Buckley drove in another run in the home half of the frame, plating Palmer on a sac fly to center. The Hilltoppers stretched the lead to six in the sixth on a three-run Kelsey McGuffin blast to go up 12-6. Olson began the Owls' march back into contention with a leadoff base hit in the sixth, quickly followed by a Caitlin Hogue single that ricocheted off the WKU pitcher. Duffner was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Alex Miller. Miler doubled to right, driving in Hogue and Sami Williams. Lochten followed with a two-run double of her own, making the score 12-10. Palmer drew a walk, then both she and Lochten moved up on a Lageyre bunt. Lochten scored on a Buckley grounder and Palmer came home to tie the game on a WKU wild pitch. The Owls had the winning run on third with just one out, but a strikeout and popup ended the inning with the score still tied. Kara Lokeinsky retired the Hilltoppers in order in the seventh and FAU once again had the winning run on base with one out, but a double play sent the game to extras. After retiring WKU in the top of the inning, Lochten was hit by a pitch to leadoff the bottom of the eighth, then stole second and third. Palmer singled up the middle to score Lochten and win the game for the Owls.

Notables

Kara Lokeinsky threw 2.2 innings in relief for her second career win.
Emily Lochten and Madisyn Palmer each had three hits and were responsible for five runs.
Despite not recording a hit, Tatum Buckley drove in four runs.
Mia Olson's homerun was her second of the season.
Samantha Lageyre and Alex Miller each had two hits, two RBI and a run scored.
The doubleheader sweep was the first for FAU since taking two from UTEP on March 12.
The 13 runs are the most FAU has scored in a game this season.

Quotable

FAU Head Coach Joan Joyce

"Senior Day is always emotional and I felt like we let those emotions get the best of us for most of the day. Luckily, we made enough plays to win both games."

Upcoming

The Owls will seek the series sweep of WKU on Sunday, April 29. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. Live stats and live video will be available at fausports.com. In-game updates will also be available through the team's Twitter account, @fauowlssoftball.