Florida Atlantic Falls in Clearwater Opener

Friday, February 13

Clearwater, Fla.

4:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

5-1

Texas Tech

9-0

Texas Tech

Florida Atlantic

Photo by: Christian Proscia

2/13/2026 11:15:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Ben Paul

CLEARWATER, Fla. – On the first day of the Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational, the No. 23 Florida Atlantic softball team dropped an 8-0 run-rule to No. 1 Texas Tech before coming up short against No. 5 Florida State by a score of 9-5.

The Owls (5-2) went up against the consensus top-ranked team in the Red Raiders (8-0), who utilized their ace in NiJaree Canady. FAU then built a lead over the No. 5 Seminoles but fell behind in the fourth inning.

GAME ONE
Making her first collegiate start since 2023, Ainsley Lambert got the Owls out of the opening inning unscathed before conceding a two-run home run in the top of the second. The Red Raiders piled on five runs in the top of the third and one in the top of the fourth to secure a run-rule win.

It was freshman Lily Lowery, making her first start, who became the Owls' first base runner with a hard hit up the middle in the bottom of the third, and senior Jesiana Mora recorded a hit on a well-placed ball to the out-of-position first baseman.

GAME TWO
With senior Autum Courtney starting in the circle, she went 1-2-3 at the top of the first before a triple brought home the game's first run at the top of the second.

A corner was turned in the bottom of the second, with the Owls batting around on the way to four runs. Back-to-back walks from junior outfielders Kiley Shelton and redshirt senior shortstop McKenna Mulholland led to a two-run triple from junior outfielder Karson Davey, followed by a single from redshirt junior Kylie Hammonds to bring Davey home. Another RBI single, this time from sophomore Lily Holtje grew the lead to 4-1.

The Owls defense stranded two Seminole runners on base for a clean third inning. In the top of the fourth, Florida State scored four to take a one-run advantage. Two straight homers by the Seminoles in the top of the fifth put the Owls down 7-4. Back-to-back hits from sophomore outfielder Bella Foran and Mora led to the former scoring off Holtje's second RBI to close the gap to 7-5 in the bottom of the sixth, but a two-run shot by the Noles in the top of the seventh secured the win.

NOTES/NOTABLE

Davey's triple was the first by an FAU player this season and her first hit as an Owl.
With two hits on the day, Mora takes the team lead with 10 on the season.
Holtje now has a team-high eight RBI.
Florida Atlantic's nine hits against Florida State are one off its season best.

UP NEXT
The Owls will take Field 3 at the Eddie C. Moore Complex for their second day in the Clearwater Invitational, facing No. 2 Tennessee at noon, followed by Missouri at 3 p.m. Both games are 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.