CONWAY, S.C. – The Florida Atlantic softball team concluded the Beach Chicken Brawl on Sunday with a 10-1 victory over Binghamton and a 2-0 shutout over Saint Joseph's to finish the two-day tournament undefeated.
In the final day of their last regular season tournament, the Owls (16-6) recorded their second run-rule win in as many days versus the Bearcats (1-11) and finished on the right side of a pitcher's duel against the Hawks (6-8) with a two-run home run by senior first baseman
Yani Guzman serving as the difference maker.
GAME ONE
For the third game in a row, redshirt junior outfielder
Kylie Hammonds led off recording a hit-by-pitch. But it was the top of the second inning where the Owls exploded with six doubles on the way to a 7-0 lead, bookended by Guzman.
Junior outfielder
Karson Davey, sophomore
Lily Holtje, senior third baseman
Jesiana Mora, sophomore second baseman
Destiny Johns, and senior catcher
Chloe Yeatts each added
one[KM1] double to surpass the team's season high in just one inning.
A walk by sophomore shortstop
Hannah Rivers to open the top of the third, a hit from sophomore outfielder
Bella Foran, and Hammonds' third hit-by-pitch of the day loaded the bases, with Davey scoring Rivers on a sacrifice fly.
Making the start in the circle, senior pitcher
Jaden Martinez (2-0) did not concede a baserunner until the bottom of the fourth inning. The Owls added two more runs in the top of the fifth to reach the double digit runs plateau, despite a late Binghamton run in the bottom of the fifth, FAU secured their sixth run-rule victory of the season.
GAME TWO
The two teams traded scoreless innings, broken by the Owls in the bottom of the fourth. Holtje hit a double down the left field line and Guzman launched her first home run of the season, a two-run shot to go up 2-0.
Senior pitcher
Autumn Courtney (6-4) took control of the circle with her second complete game in a row, allowing just two hits in the last six innings to go with four strikeouts.
NOTES/NOTABLE
- The Owls have won 11 of their last 13 games and are outscoring opponents 85-14 in the victories. In its last nine wins, FAU has held opponents to one or fewer runs.
- With 20 in her collegiate career and three in one game, Hammonds is now the program's all-time leader in hit-by-pitches.
- In just one inning against the Bearcats, the Owls set their new season high with six doubles.
- Holtje has reached base safely in 14 consecutive games and owns a team-leading nine doubles.
- Martinez's six strikeouts are a season high.
QUOTABLE
UP NEXT
Before American play begins, the Owls will host Florida Gulf Coast on Wednesday, March 4 on Joan Joyce Field at FAU Softball Stadium. First pitch is at 6 p.m. on ESPN+.
FOLLOW THE OWLS
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HERE. To follow the team socially, visit @fausoftball, or for the most up-to-date information, go to www.fausports.com.