BOCA RATON, Fla.
– The FAU softball team is chasing history this weekend. The Owls will travel to North Texas for a three-game Conference USA set. FAU is one win away from head coach
Joan Joyce's 1,000
th career victory.
Joyce is looking to add another milestone to her decorated career. The longtime FAU head coach, and the only coach in the Owls' history, would become only the 27
th coach in NCAA Division I history to cross the thousand-win plateau. Currently, only 42 coaches in all of NCAA history have won 1,000 games. FAU will get its first crack at history on Friday night at 7 p.m. eastern.
The Owls (14-13, 3-0 C-USA) are riding a five-game winning streak and a sweep over Louisiana Tech last time out in the C-USA opener. In game three, FAU pulled out a walk-off, 4-3 win in exciting fashion.
Riley Olson knocked a base hit through the left side that scored
Maddie Carlock to clinch the series sweep. It was the first conference sweep for the Owls since April 28 and 29, 2018.
Sara Berthiaume enters the series riding a career-high 13-game hitting streak. Berthiaume's average of .408 leads the Owls and ranks sixth in C-USA. The Owls' left fielder leads the conference in triples with four and ranks third in hits with 31. Her four triples also rank her seventh in the nation. In the last 10 games, she is hitting .433 (13-30) with seven runs scored.
Zoey Jones has also been swinging a hot bat, hitting .320 in the last 10 games and riding a career-high six-game hitting streak. In the last 10 games, Jones has a home run, five RBI and three doubles for a slugging percentage of .360.
The Owls' pitching staff has posted six shutouts this year which ranks 37
th in all of NCAA Division I.
Lynn Gardner owns four of those to rank 11
th in the nation. Gardner owns a 2.55 ERA, while
Gabby Sacco leads the Owls with a 2.04 ERA.
Fans can watch the weekend series on ESPN+.
To stay up to date on all things FAU softball, follow the Owls on social media @FAUSoftball.