Gardner, Berthiaume Team to Earn a DH Split with MT

Saturday, April 24

Boca Raton, Fla.

6 PM

Florida Atlantic

11-27, 0

Middle Tennessee

22-20, 0

Middle Tennessee

Florida Atlantic

Photo by: ©JC Ridley/Owlpix.com

4/24/2021 9:30:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

BOCA RATON, Fla. – Lynn Gardner pitched her second complete game, both wins, in as many days and Sara Berthiaume hit her second homer of 2021 to give Florida Atlantic University's softball team a 2-1 win over Middle Tennessee on Saturday night. The two teams split the day's doubleheader with MT winning game one 6-1. The Owls hold a 2-1 series mark, leading into Sunday's game, the fourth and final game of the four-game series.

How it Happened

Game 1
MT (22-20, 8-7 Conference USA) took a page from the Owls' Friday playbook by scoring two runs in the first inning and never looked back. The Blue Raiders added an additional four runs in the third and the Owls worked to plate one in the bottom of the fourth for the game's eventual 6-1 final.

Game 2
FAU (11-27, 6-9 C-USA) broke the scoreless game open in the bottom of the second. Senior shortstop Gretchen Ebert drew a one-out walk, in the third, and was replaced at first by Kaitlyn Cunningham, who hit into a fielder's choice. Berthiaume then drove a line drive over the right-centerfield fence to put the Owls up for the first time of the day.

Holding the two-run lead, Gardner returned to the circle to pitch a scoreless fourth and fifth. The lefty got her first scare when MT loaded the bases with one out, but an Owl defense that has committed just one error in their last four games and just two in the last seven, held MT to one run and a scoreless seventh for the 2-1 final.

Joyce's Take

"The first game we did not play very well," said Joan Joyce, FAU's head coach. "We got behind in the first inning with a pitcher that was a little sore for some reason. After a change on the mound, we settled down and got good outings from Kara [Lokeinsky] and then Abi [Abigail Morgan]. The second game, we hit the ball pretty good, but again right at them. Lynn [Gardner] pitched another good game holding them to four hits after allowing just three yesterday. Sara's homer put us up 2-0, they scored one in the sixth, threatened in the seventh which got a little scary, but Lynn got us out of it."

Statistically

Game 1

Sommer Baker led the Owls with a 2-for-3 performance. FAU's four-hit total was rounded out by Kaitlyn Cunningham and Kaitlyn Burke, who were both 1-for-3
Donnie Gobourne started the game for FAU and was pulled following two walks, with an injury, and was charged with two runs. Lokeinsky came into the game and tossed the next four innings, scattering seven hits, striking out one and allowing four earned runs. Morgan closed out the game with three scoreless innings of work and gave up just one hit

Game 2

The Owls had just three hits in the game, but Berthiaume made her 1-for-3 outing count with a two-run homer
Fayth Davis and Jalynn Ford were each 1-for-2
Gardner tossed the complete game, gave up one earned run, scattered four hits and struck out three

What's Next

The two teams will return to FAU Softball Stadium Sunday afternoon with the Owls holding a 2-1 series lead. Game time is slated for 1 p.m.; however, fans will want to arrive approximately 30 minutes early to bid farewell to four 2021 seniors and to three 2020 seniors, who were unable to be celebrated a year ago due to COVID-19. To follow the team socially, visit @fausoftball or for the most up-to-date information go to www.fausports.com.