Owls Drop DH, Season Comes to an End

Saturday, May 8

Bowling Green, Ky.

1 PM

Florida Atlantic

12-34, 0

WKU

26-12, 0

Florida Atlantic

WKU

NCAA Softball: FA vs WKU Kaitlyn Burke 2021

Photo by: Steve Roberts/WKU Athletics

5/8/2021 9:38:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Florida Atlantic University's softball team's 2021 season came to an end Saturday afternoon, when the hopes of the Owls extending the season into tournament play was dashed by WKU. On Saturday, FAU fell 3-0 in game one and 7-0 in game two. The four-game series shifted to back-to-back doubleheaders, due to projected weather.

How it Happened

Game 1
FAU (12-35, 6-14 Conference USA) opened game one with a one-out double by leftfielder Sara Berthiaume, her team-leading ninth. Senior catcher Kaitlyn Burke would follow with a single, a play that Berthiaume attempted to score on, but was called out at home. That would be the closest FAU would come to scoring. Junior Lynn Gardner tossed a complete game, giving up seven hits and three earned runs in her second complete game in as many days. In total, the lefty tossed 14.1 innings in the two days.

Game 2
In game two, the Owls elected to go with multiple members of the pitching staff. Senior Kara Lokeinsky drew the start versus WKU (27-12, 10-6 C-USA), her first start of 2021 in her 18th appearance. Lokeinsky tossed the first three innings, allowed three runs, two of which were earned, and she tied her season high with four strikeouts. She gave way to Abigail Morgan, who threw the fourth, giving up two earned runs on two hits and two walks. Morgan also tossed five innings on Friday. Gardner then threw Saturday's final two innings, also giving up two runs, but on five hits and striking out one. FAU's lineup also was a full squad rotation with a total of 15 players seeing action, but the Owls were held to four hits in the game.

Statistically

Game 1

Berthiaume and Burke were both 1-for-3 in the game while shortstop Gretchen Ebert was 1-for-2
The Owls, ranked No. 8 nationally with 0.51 double plays turned per game, turned a rare double play when center fielder Kaitlyn Cunningham caught a fly ball in mid-center and threw out the tagging runner out at home to Burke, ending the inning
Gardner fell to 7-15 on the year with her 15th complete game. She currently leads all C-USA pitchers in innings pitched

Game 2

FAU recorded four hits in game two with starters Berthiaume and Burke going 1-for-2, while Cameon Persutti had a pinch-hit single as did Maddie Carlock
Lokeinsky took the loss and fell to 2-1 on the year

What's Next

FAU bids farewell to four seniors: Burke, Fayth Davis, Ebert and Lokeinsky. The Owls eventually will congratulate a total of six, including Maya Amm and Bailey Story, at graduation ceremonies prior to August. This squad, led by the six graduates, will be remembered as a team that had a 2020 season cut short due to COVID-19 and then returned to complete a 47-game slate in 2021. To follow the team socially, visit @fausoftball, or for the most up-to-date information go to www.fausports.com.