No. 21 Owls Shut Out Bulls with Series-Opening Run-Rule Victory

Friday, April 4

Boca Raton, Fla.

6 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

33-6, 12-1

South Florida

29-11-1, 8-3-1

South Fla.

Florida Atlantic

Photo by: Keira Arimenta

No. 21 Owls Shut Out Bulls with Series-Opening Run-Rule Victory

4/4/2025 10:48:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Ben Paul

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The No. 21 Florida Atlantic softball team's electrifying season continued on Friday evening with their fourth straight run-rule victory in conference play, a first in program history, in an 8-0 shutout over South Florida.

In the opening game of a series featuring the two top teams in the American Athletic Conference, the Owls (33-6, 12-1) delivered a five-run fifth inning to defeat the Bulls (29-11-1, 8-4-1) in front of a roaring crowd at FAU Softball Stadium. The tone was set from the beginning with leadoff hitter, redshirt sophomore outfielder Kylie Hammonds, reaching base in all four plate appearances to go 2-for-2 with a walk, hit-by-pitch, and 3 RBI.

Autumn Courtney made the start in the circle and allowed just two hits and no walks in her third shutout of the season. She moves to a league-best 16-1 on the year.

THE BEGINNING

Hammonds was hit on the first pitch of the bottom of the opening inning, marking the fourth straight game she reached base in the leadoff spot. The Owls loaded the bases early with Hammonds coming home off the RBI from junior catcher Chloe Yeatts for the first run.

Courtney and the defense held the Bulls without a hit for almost three innings, retiring the first eight batters.

THE TURNING POINT

Junior first baseman Yani Guzman led off the bottom of the second inning with a four-pitch walk. Following a single from freshman OF team-hit leader Bella Foran, the two eventually scored off a base hit from Hammonds and a sacrifice fly RBI from freshman Destiny Johns for a 3-0 lead.

The teams traded scoreless frames from the top of the third to the fifth before the Owls snuck up with a game-ending run explosion.

THE FINISH

Yeatts reached base and advanced to second on an error, making way for freshman pinch runner Annika Segedi to score off a base hit from sophomore Ciara Gibson. On the next at-bat, Guzman launched her first career triple to tack on another run.

Guzman, along with senior pinch runner Abby Ota, both scored on Hammonds' second hit of the night for a 7-0 lead. With two outs on the board, sophomore shortstop Kiley Channell stepped up to the plate and outran the throw to first for the hit as Hammonds crossed home for the game-ending run.

QUOTABLE

ESPN+ postgame with @CoachJordanSB ‼️#WIP🏝️ pic.twitter.com/7wWOsn58p9
— Florida Atlantic Softball (@FAUSoftball) April 5, 2025

NOTES/NOTABLE

During their four-game conference winning streak, the Owls have outscored their opponent by a 46-5 margin.
Hammonds has reached base in 35 out of 39 games this season as she builds on her team lead in runs (38), walks (25), and HBP (nine).
Channell's nine-game hit streak is the longest by an Owl in 2025.
After another masterful outing in the circle, Courtney maintains her AAC lead in wins (16), strikeouts (113, 25 more than second place), and opponent batting average (.162).
The Owls took the conference lead over the Bulls in on-base percentage (.417).

UP NEXT

The Owls will take the field on Saturday at 2 p.m. on ESPN+ with a chance to clinch their eighth straight conference series.

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.