Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Five Owls Named to D1Softball's Preseason Top 20
1/7/2025 11:50:00 AM | Softball
BOCA RATON, Fla. – Coming off a season in which they won the American Athletic Conference regular season championship in their first year of league play, the Florida Atlantic softball team continues to receive preseason recognition.
As part of their conference preview, D1Softball has named five Owls in their preseason top 20 players, the most out of any team in the AAC. Junior third baseman Jesiana Mora is the highest ranked at number three, followed by junior pitcher Autumn Courtney (No. 5), sophomore shortstop Kiley Channell (No. 10), and senior pitchers Ainsley Lambert (No. 13) and Gabby Sacco (No. 15)
Mora received AAC Second Team All-Conference and NFCA DI All-Region Second Team honors in 2024. She led the Owls in batting average (.393) and hits (66) while logging 42 runs, 45 RBI, and 26 walks.
The junior transfer Courtney is the team's lone newcomer to make the list after tallying 447 strikeouts in two seasons at Queens. Among the pitchers, she joins Lambert, who finished first team all-conference in 2024, and Sacco, who won the 2023 Conference USA Pitcher of the Year.
Channell is set to be one of top shortstops in the AAC after bursting onto the scene as a freshman in 2024, handily winning the league's Rookie of the Year honor with 29 runs, 55 hits, 35 RBI and 20 walks in 165 at-bats. Her 19 doubles ranked 11th nationwide.
The Owls will open their 2025 season on Feb. 6, hosting the Paradise Classic at FAU Softball Stadium.
As part of their conference preview, D1Softball has named five Owls in their preseason top 20 players, the most out of any team in the AAC. Junior third baseman Jesiana Mora is the highest ranked at number three, followed by junior pitcher Autumn Courtney (No. 5), sophomore shortstop Kiley Channell (No. 10), and senior pitchers Ainsley Lambert (No. 13) and Gabby Sacco (No. 15)
Mora received AAC Second Team All-Conference and NFCA DI All-Region Second Team honors in 2024. She led the Owls in batting average (.393) and hits (66) while logging 42 runs, 45 RBI, and 26 walks.
The junior transfer Courtney is the team's lone newcomer to make the list after tallying 447 strikeouts in two seasons at Queens. Among the pitchers, she joins Lambert, who finished first team all-conference in 2024, and Sacco, who won the 2023 Conference USA Pitcher of the Year.
Channell is set to be one of top shortstops in the AAC after bursting onto the scene as a freshman in 2024, handily winning the league's Rookie of the Year honor with 29 runs, 55 hits, 35 RBI and 20 walks in 165 at-bats. Her 19 doubles ranked 11th nationwide.
The Owls will open their 2025 season on Feb. 6, hosting the Paradise Classic at FAU Softball Stadium.
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