BOCA RATON, Fla. – Florida Atlantic's softball team defeated a Big Ten opponent for the second time in as many days, defeating Ohio State in a 10-6 back-and-forth affair on Friday evening at FAU Softball Stadium.
In a game that spanned over three hours, the Owls (2-0) overcame three deficits against the Buckeyes (0-1), finally taking a lead that they did not relinquish in the bottom of the fourth.
Senior pitcher
Jaden Martinez made her first start of the season and returned in middle relief for a five-strikeout performance. Graduate
Ainsley Lambert then checked in and earned the win with FAU taking the lead on her watch. After picking up the shutout win the previous night, senior
Autumn Courtney recorded the save with three strikeouts in 1.1 innings of work.
THE BEGINNING
After loading the bases and conceding a run in the top of the first, senior pitcher
Jaden Martinez struck out two in a row to retire the side.
In the bottom of the second, a leadoff home run by sophomore
Lily Holtje evened the score at 1-1.
THE TURNING POINT
An error led to a two-run inning by Ohio State in the top of the third, but the Buckeyes returned the favor with one of their own to allow the Owls to tie game.
Ohio State hit a homer to regain the lead, but FAU tied it up for the third time in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI single from senior
Madison Inscoe. With one out and the bases loaded, sophomore second baseman
Destiny Johns drew a walk to take the 5-4 lead.
The Owls added two more from a run by redshirt senior
Cameryn Orland and sophomore outfielder
Bella Foran heading home in a perfectly executed steal attempt with multiple plyers on base.
THE FINISH
Martinez re-entered the circle in the top of the fifth and was put to the test with the bases loaded and two outs but retired the side via a strikeout.
Bases were loaded for the Owls once again in the bottom of the fifth and redshirt junior outfielder
Kylie Hammonds capitalized with an RBI single.
Ohio State closed the gap with two runs in the top of the sixth, but senior catcher
Chloe Yeatts put on the finishing touches with a no-doubt shot to left field for her first homer of the year.
NOTES/NOTABLE
- The Owls are now 8-3 versus power conference opponents in the last two seasons.
- Dating back to 2025, Hammonds has reached base in 28 straight games.
- Holtje added three walks to her home run.
- Junior outfielder Kiley Shelton went two-for-three at the plate.
- As a team, the Owls walked 10 times.
QUOTABLE
UP NEXT
The Owls will host Wisconsin on the third day of the Paradise Classic. First pitch is tentatively scheduled for 6:15 p.m. and will air on FAUSports.com
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