BOCA RATON, Fla. – In its 2026 season opener, the Florida Atlantic softball team needed just five innings to put together an 8-0 shutout victory over Indiana on Thursday evening at FAU Softball Stadium.
The Owls (1-0) had a complete performance, with an eight-strikeout performance from senior pitcher
Autumn Courtney and a five-run fifth inning on offense to put the game away over the Hoosiers (0-1) and record their first shutout to open a season since 2017.
THE BEGINNING
Courtney recorded two straight strikeouts to retire Indiana in the top of the first.
Picking up right where she left off from her breakout season in '25, redshirt junior outfielder
Kylie Hammonds launched leadoff a solo shot to left center field for the 1-0 lead.
THE TURNING POINT
Continuing to deliver from the circle, Courtney recorded seven strikeouts in the first four innings, including four in a row.
Back-to-back RBI in the bottom of the fourth, first from a double by junior outfielder
Kiley Shelton and then redshirt senior infielder
McKenna Mulholland, upped the score to 3-0.
THE FINISH
The bottom of the fifth saw an explosion of runs by the Owls to win the game. Back-to-back RBI singles, coming courtesy of sophomore
Destiny Johns and senior
Jesiana Mora, gave the Owls a 5-0 lead.
A bases-loaded walk from senior
Yani Guzman off the bench put six on the board, and Mulholland ended the night with a two-run double.
NOTES/NOTABLE
- The 8-0 win over Indiana is FAU's first run-rule victory over a power conference opponent since 2009. The Owls are 7-3 versus power conference teams in the last two seasons.
- Courtney allowed just three hits to go with her eight strikeouts.
- Hammonds, the reigning conference leader in on-base percentage in 2025, reached in all three plate appearances with a homer, walk, and hit by pitch.
- Mulholland finished her Owl debut with two hits and three RBI.
- Also recording multiple hits on the night was Mora.
QUOTABLE
GALLERY
Gallery: (2-5-2026) SB vs Indiana
UP NEXT
As part of day two of the Paradise Classic, the Owls will face Ohio State on Friday at 6 p.m. Tickets can be purchased
HERE.
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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.