Upcoming Event: Softball versus East Carolina on March 13, 2026 at 6:00 PM
6:00 PM
Softball
vs. East Carolina
Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Wednesday, March 4
Boca Raton, Fla.
6:00 PM
Florida Atlantic
vs
Florida Gulf Coast
Photo by: Linnea Magee
Owls Host Pirates in American Home-Opening Series
3/12/2026 1:42:00 PM | Softball
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic softball team will host its first American Conference series of the season, taking on East Carolina on Joan Joyce Field at FAU Softball Stadium. First pitch is on Friday at 6 p.m., followed by Saturday at 5 p.m. and a noon Sunday matchup. All games are on ESPN+.
Fresh off opening conference play in Charlotte with a series win, the Owls (19-7, 2-1) return to Paradise where they have matched their best home start in program history, currently sitting at 12-0. The Pirates (17-9, 2-1) make their first visit to Boca Raton since 2024.
LAST TIME OUT
FAU picked up two wins on the road at Charlotte. Redshirt junior outfielder Kylie Hammonds set the tone with a series lead-off home run on Friday and added another for her first multi-home run game. She also led the way defensively with multiple outstanding grabs, including robbing the 49ers of hits and homers. In the circle, graduate pitcher Ainsley Lambert recorded a save and allowed zero runs over two games. Both were named to the American Conference Honorable Mention list for their efforts.
ABOUT THE OWLS
ABOUT THE PIRATES
UP NEXT
The Owls return to the road for a meeting with Wichita State from Friday, March 20 to Sunday, March 22.
OWLS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
To stay up to date on all things FAU softball, follow the Owls on social media @FAUSoftball.
Fresh off opening conference play in Charlotte with a series win, the Owls (19-7, 2-1) return to Paradise where they have matched their best home start in program history, currently sitting at 12-0. The Pirates (17-9, 2-1) make their first visit to Boca Raton since 2024.
LAST TIME OUT
FAU picked up two wins on the road at Charlotte. Redshirt junior outfielder Kylie Hammonds set the tone with a series lead-off home run on Friday and added another for her first multi-home run game. She also led the way defensively with multiple outstanding grabs, including robbing the 49ers of hits and homers. In the circle, graduate pitcher Ainsley Lambert recorded a save and allowed zero runs over two games. Both were named to the American Conference Honorable Mention list for their efforts.
ABOUT THE OWLS
- Head Coach Jordan Clark is in her fourth season at the helm of the program and owns a 140-55 record. Clark and her assistants received the American Conference Coaching Staff of the Year recognition in both 2024 and '25.
- As back-to-back regular season champions, Florida Atlantic was ranked No. 1 in the American Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll.
- Senior pitcher Autumn Courtney became the program's fifth All-American in May of 2025 after winning the unanimous American Conference Pitcher of the Year honor. She opened the '26 season earning American Pitcher of the Week and currently leads the team with 53 strikeouts.
- As a team, the Owls lead the American Conference in batting average (.324), runs (164), doubles (48), RBI (143), walks (97), on-base percentage (.422), runs allowed (77), strikeouts thrown (173), opposing batting average (.239) and fielding percentage (.981).
- Florida Atlantic ranks No. 14 nationwide in fielding percentage and No. 21 in doubles.
- Sophomore Lily Holtje has earned both an American Player of the Week and two Honorable Mention recognitions. She leads the Owls in batting average (.448), hits (26), OPS (1.363), doubles (10), RBI (25) walks (17) and on-base percentage (.553). She has reached base in 18 consecutive games.
- Senior first baseman Yani Guzman has had a career-best start to her season and is currently second on the team in batting average (.432). She has a hit in 12 out of her last 13 games and multiple in four out of her last six.
- Redshirt junior outfielder Kylie Hammonds leads the conference in home runs (seven) and runs (29). She owns the all-time program record in career hit-by-pitches (20).
- Senior third baseman Jesiana Mora has recorded a hit in 16 out of 18 games played. On Feb. 28 against Coastal Carolina, she tied FAU's single-game program record in walks with four.
- A trio of freshman pitchers in Makenna Lee, Ashlynn Durkin, and Madilyn Byrd have allowed just 14 earned runs in 41 total innings. The three combined for a five-inning no-hitter with nine strikeouts on Feb. 20 against Southern Indiana. Lee holds a 5-0 record with a 2.52 ERA.
- Lambert's four saves leads the conference and she is the only pitcher, who has faced the minimum number of batters, to hold opposing batters to an average lower than .200 (.193).
ABOUT THE PIRATES
- Head Coach Shane Winkler is in his fifth season with the program.
- Sophomore Jenna Krol has totaled 20 RBI to lead the Pirates.
- Freshman Sydney Rainford is the reigning American Conference Pitcher of the Week after recording two complete game shutouts in three days.
- ECU's defense has turned in 15 double plays, the ninth most in the nation.
- The Pirates were swept by the Owls in 2025 and trail the all-time series 7-4.
UP NEXT
The Owls return to the road for a meeting with Wichita State from Friday, March 20 to Sunday, March 22.
OWLS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
To stay up to date on all things FAU softball, follow the Owls on social media @FAUSoftball.
Players Mentioned
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/ Softball
P
/ Softball
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/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C/1B
/ Softball
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/ Softball
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/ Softball
IF
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