Softball Splits Day Two Games at FAU First Pitch Classic

Saturday, February 8

Boca Raton, Fla.

6 PM

Florida Atlantic

1-1

Northern Illinois

1-3

Northern Illinois

Florida Atlantic

2020 FAU Softball vs Palm Beach Atlantic

Photo by: ©JC Ridley/Owlpix.com

2/9/2020 1:11:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University softball team (1-2) went 1-1 on the second of three days at the annual FAU First Pitch Classic. FAU started the day out strong with a 4-3 win over Northern Illinois, who is coached by former Owl pitcher Chris Sutcliffe. The Owls were unable to keep the momentum going in the second game, falling to Purdue 14-3 in five innings.

How It Was Decided

Game 1 vs. Northern Illinois
The Owls began the game on the right foot, as Fayth Davis came up with an RBI single to score Gretchen Ebert in the top of the first inning. Kaitlyn Burke then followed up with an RBI single to left field to score Jolie Duffner. In the top of the second, the Huskies cut the Owls' lead in half off a sacrifice fly, but Duffner responded in the bottom of the inning with a sacrifice fly of her own to score Sara Berthiaume. Ashleigh Jennings delivered the play of the night in the bottom of the fourth inning, using her speed to capitalize on an inside-the-park homerun, as the Owls pulled further ahead, 4-1. Although the Huskies tacked on two more runs in the sixth inning, they could not get past the Owls, as FAU took the game by a 4-3 decision. Owls' pitcher Abigail Morgan pitched a complete game in the win.

Game 2 vs. Purdue
After a three up, three down inning for Purdue in the top of the first, FAU brought the fire to the plate in the bottom of the frame. Burke started things off with a two RBI double to score Davis and Jennings. Myah Murray then followed up with an RBI single to score Burke and the Owls were up 3-0. The Boilermakers responded with six runs in the second inning and later tacked on eight more in the fourth. FAU put two girls on base in the bottom of the fifth, but could not come up with the runs to keep the game going, falling 14-3 in five innings.

Notables

Game 1

Jennings came up with her first career homerun and the ball didn't even need to leave the park
Duffner ended the game 1-2 with an RBI and run scored, while Davis picked up an RBI single
Burke finished the day 1-3
Murray tallied her first double of the season
Berthiaume recorded her first career hit in her first at bat
Morgan pitched her first career complete game in her first start of the season. The sophomore ended the day with a career high four strikeouts

Game 2

Burke ended the second game 1-2 with two RBI and a double
Murray went 1-3 with an RBI
Jennings scored one of the three Owl runs and Danielle Bieberble went 1-1 at the plate
Caryssa Orland pinch hit for the Owls in the bottom of the fifth and delivered her first career hit at her first at bat
Kara Lokeinsky pitched 1.2 innings with no earned runs charged against her. Claire Blount pitched one inning in relief in the top of the fifth and retired each of the three batters she faced

With Coach Joyce

On Game One:
"We played a very good first game," said head coach Joan Joyce. "We can't let Chris Sutcliffe, my ex player beat us. It was a very good game. We had the game basically under control. We played a nice clean game and they were riding smooth, but then all of the sudden, we gave up runs and had a close game with people on base. But overall, we played well and it was a clean game, which is what I foresee this team being."

On Game Two:
"Johnny Stratton used to always say for every freshman on your team you get a loss. That is kind of what is going on now. We haven't found ourselves and what is really going to work for this team yet. This is a tough weekend with really good teams."

FAU First Pitch Classic

Tournament Central

Up Next

The Owls will finish the First Pitch Classic tomorrow against Purdue at 1:30 p.m. and Indiana State at 3:45 p.m. For tickets, visit the Ticketmaster page or call 1-866-FAU-OWLS. A tournament pass for day three can be purchased here.

Follow the Owls

For live updates during all of the Owls' games and for other FAU softball news, follow along on Twitter (@fauowlssoftball), Instagram (@Owls_softball) and Facebook.