No. 22 Owls Go 1-1 on Day Two of Austin Peay Invite

Saturday, March 1

Clarksville, Tenn.

11:30 a.m. EST

Florida Atlantic

18-3

Northern Kentucky

6-7

Northern Kentucky

Florida Atlantic

Photo by: Austin Peay

3/1/2025 8:09:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Ben Paul

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 22 Florida Atlantic softball team split the second day of the Governors Invitational on Saturday, beating Northern Kentucky in just five innings by a score of 10-1 before falling to tournament host Austin Peay, 5-3.

With the win over the Norse (6-7) and the loss to the Governors (16-3), the Owls move to 18-4 on the season.

GAME 1

Florida Atlantic made quick work of Northern Kentucky in the morning slot, with offensive momentum from Friday continuing to carry over into day two. For the ninth time this season, leadoff hitter OF Kylie Hammonds got on base to start the game, this time via a walk, and later came home off an error. Batting in the two spot, freshman Destiny Johns recorded a single and eventually scored with bases loaded to put FAU up 2-1.

A six-run third inning gave the Owls a 9-1 lead, loading the bases five consecutive times and then scoring off a walk, fielders choice, wild pitch, and finally, a bases-clearing triple from Johns. After recording a cycle in two games on Friday, Johns nearly got there in one with a single, double, and triple. It marked her third consecutive outing with 4 RBI, putting her at 12 on the weekend.

Junior pitcher Autumn Courtney made her eighth start in the circle. She only allowed a run in the top of the first and struck out five straight batters. She finished with eight strikeouts and picked up her ninth victory of the season.

GAME 2

After falling behind 4-0, the Owls put runs on the board for the first time when singles from junior Chloe Yeatts and sophomore Ciara Gibson led to an RBI for sophomore Corin Dammeier with a hit to left field.

The two teams traded innings of no runs before the top of the fifth as Florida Atlantic mounted a comeback. Johns and Yeatts singled while junior third baseman Jesiana Mora reached on an error to load the bases. Sophomore shortstop Kiley Channell stepped up to the plate and singled to left field to bring home Johns and Mora, cutting the deficit to 4-3. The Governors tacked on one more in the bottom of the sixth before the Owls were retired in the seventh.

Junior pitcher Jaden Martinez came into the game in relief for Gabby Sacco with one out remaining in the bottom of the first and proceeded to retire 13 of her first 14 batters, striking out four of them.

NOTES/NOTABLE

Hammonds has gotten on base in 19 out of 22 games. During the tournament, she has eight runs in seven at-bats
Johns is 9-for-13 this weekend with 12 RBI, two doubles, two triples, one home run, and two walks
Gibson went 3-for-4 on the day and recorded two runs
Courtney is tied for the nation lead in victories with nine on the season and is 6-0 in her last six decisions. She has 68 strikeouts thus far, leading the American Athletic Conference with 20 more than the next closest
Martinez allowed just one hit and had four strikeouts in four innings of work

UP NEXT

One final day remains in the Governors Invitational on Sunday. The Owls will face Morehead State (1-16) at 11:30 a.m. EST.

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