Florida Atlantic Holds On for East Carolina Win

Friday, April 18

Greenville, N.C.

5 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

37-9, 16-4

East Carolina

25-21, 10-10

Florida Atlantic

East Carolina

Photo by: Christian Proscia

4/18/2025 7:31:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Ben Paul

GREENVILLE, N.C. – The Florida Atlantic softball team defeated East Carolina by a score of 3-2 on Friday afternoon, with senior pitcher Ainsley Lambert closing the game for her nation-leading ninth save of the season.

With the victory, the Owls (37-9, 16-4) clinched the series over the Pirates (25-21, 10-10). FAU has now won six American Athletic Conference series in 2025 and have taken nine out of their last 10 dating back to '24.

Junior pitcher Jaden Martinez was effective in the circle, with six strikeouts and no earned runs allowed in four innings for the eventual win (5-4) before making way for Lambert.

THE BEGINNING

For the second straight game, redshirt sophomore Kylie Hammonds began the contest with a leadoff walk. A hit-by-pitch on sophomore shortstop Kiley Channell and a walk for junior catcher Chloe Yeatts loaded the bases in the top of the first inning before sophomore Ciara Gibson belted a two RBI double to right field for a 2-0 lead.

Channell drove in another run with a single in the top of the second to up the score to 3-0, followed up by a double from junior third baseman Jesiana Mora.

THE TURNING POINT

The Pirates tested the Owls' defense in the bottom of the fourth with two straight batters getting on base. A passed ball put the runners in scoring position and a short hit to first base scored both to close the gap to 3-2. With two outs on the board, Martinez then recorded her sixth strikeout of the day to strand the remaining baserunner.

Entering the game in the bottom of the firth, Lambert brought the defense three straight outs to keep the one-run lead.

THE FINISH

Sophomore Kiley Shelton logged her second hit of the day to keep the offense rolling but was left stranded in the top of the sixth.

Lambert conceded a hit to lead off the inning's bottom frame, the last gasp for the Pirates as the Owls retired the next five batters to end the game.

NOTES/NOTABLE

Florida Atlantic has won 10 straight AAC road games dating back to 2024, the longest streak in the conference.
Yeatts recorded her seventh multi-walk game of the season, the most among any Owl batter.
Hammonds has reached base in 15 consecutive appearances and 42 out of 46 games in 2025.
Shelton is batting a team-best .625 through the two games of the series.
With her ninth save, Lambert sets her career high and holds the NCAA lead.

UP NEXT

The Owls will look to complete the sweep on Saturday with a noon first pitch on ESPN+.

FOLLOW THE OWLS

For the Owls' complete schedule, click HERE. To follow the team socially, visit @fausoftball, or for the most up-to-date information, go to www.fausports.com.