BOCA RATON, Fla. – Four Florida Atlantic University softball players will open their senior season once more when the Owls travel to Miami for the season-opening Felsberg Invitational hosted by FIU this weekend.
Â
It has been 346 days since the Owls last took the field, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic abruptly halting the 2020 season, and 372 days since these same four seniors opened what they thought would be their final collegiate season, on Feb. 6, 2020.
Â
The Owls will open the season at 12:30 p.m. on Friday versus Winthrop, which will be the first ever meeting between the two schools and the first of three meetings at the two-day tournament. FAU will then play host FIU at 3 p.m. The Owls hold a 62-38 all-time record versus the Panthers and are 47-28 in non-conference play, as this game will be. FAU will face FIU four additional times in 2021, which will count towards the two teams' Conference USA record. Saturday's games are scheduled for 1:00 and 3:30 p.m. versus Winthrop.
Â
The senior quartet of pitcher
Kara Lokeinsky, catcher
Kaitlyn Burke and outfielders
Gretchen Ebert and
Fayth Davis are expected to lead the Owls in 2021, a season that once again is the most difficult that
Joan Joyce, FAU's legendary head coach, could schedule. The Owls' 2021 slate features contests against teams from the ACC, American, ASUN, Big 12, Missouri Valley, SEC, Sun Belt and of course C-USA.
Â
Owls on Social Media
The Owls can be followed at @FAUSoftball
Â
The Owls are comprised of the four seniors, six juniors, six sophomores and eight freshmen, which make up the largest roster in the program's 27-year history. The 24 Owls will open their 2021 home season with the FAU "Strikeout Cancer" Tournament scheduled for Feb. 19-21. The three-day event will feature the Owls, Ole Miss and Iowa State. Fans are encouraged to obtain the most up-to-date information at fausports.com.
Â