Owls Record Walk-Off Win Over Kansas

Thursday, February 19

Boca Raton, Fla.

6:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

7-5

Kansas

7-5

Kansas

Florida Atlantic

Photo by: Mehayla Cunningham

2/19/2026 10:10:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Ben Paul

BOCA RATON, Fla. – A two-run walk-off single from sophomore second baseman Destiny Johns put the Florida Atlantic softball team back into the win column, defeating Kansas 6-5 on the opening night of the Joan Joyce Classic.

The Owls (7-5) took down the Jayhawks (7-5) in dramatic fashion on Joan Joyce Field at FAU Softball Stadium. Trailing by one run with one runner on and down to its last out, FAU loaded the bases, setting up the winning Johns at-bat.

THE BEGINNING
Two quick runs by the Jayhawks in the top of the first inning put the Owls into an early hole, but senior first baseman Madison Inscoe responded in the bottom frame with a two-RBI single.

Inscoe moved into the circle to open the second frame and delivered three outs before conceding a home run in the top of the third.

THE TURNING POINT
Senior third baseman Jesiana Mora got the bottom of the third started with a single down the left field line. Two batters later, Inscoe recorded her third RBI with a single that drove Mora home for the tying run.

After Johns led off the bottom of the fourth with a double, she scored on a hard-hit ball from redshirt junior outfielder Kylie Hammonds to give the Owls their first lead of the game at 4-3.

THE FINISH
The Jayhawks answered with a run in each of the fifth and sixth innings to regain the lead at 5-4. Following 2.1 innings of work by relief graduate pitcher Ainsley Lambert, senior Autumn Courtney checked in and did not allow baserunner.

Sophomore Lily Holtje opened the final frame with a leadoff double and was replaced by pinch runner Cameryn Orland. The Owls drew back-to-back two-out walks by juniors Ciara Gibson and Karson Davey to load the bases.

Johns then stepped to the plate and delivered the game winner, with Orland and Gibson coming home.

NOTES/NOTABLE

Head Coach Jordan Clark continues her winning record against schools from the Big Ten, Big 12, ACC and SEC conferences and is 10-7 in the last two seasons.
Mora, Inscoe, and Holtje are each on a four-game hitting streak.
Inscoe's three RBI are a season high.
Johns recorded her first multi-RBI game of the year.
Courtney moves to a 3-3 record on the season.

QUOTABLE

Postgame with Coach Jordan 🎤#WIP🏝️ pic.twitter.com/p90BOFskCO
— Florida Atlantic Softball (@FAUSoftball) February 20, 2026

UP NEXT
Day two of the Joan Joyce Classic will see the Owls take on UMass and Southern Indiana, tentatively scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and 6:15 p.m., respectively. Both games will air on FAUSports.com.

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.