Owl Bats Stay Hot in Conference Opener

Friday, March 6

Charlotte, N.C.

6:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

18-6, 1-0

Charlotte

12-11, 0-1

Florida Atlantic

Charlotte

Photo by: Christian Proscia

3/6/2026 9:35:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Ben Paul

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Florida Atlantic softball team set its season high in hits for the second game in a row on the way to a 9-4 victory over Charlotte on Friday evening.

In their sixth straight win, the Owls (18-6, 1-0) opened American Conference play with another masterful day at the plate, totaling 17 hits and a season-high four home runs while staving off a late rally by the 49ers (12-11, 0-1).

Senior pitcher Autumn Courtney made the start and picked up the win, moving to 7-4.

THE BEGINNING
Reminiscent of the season opener, redshirt junior outfielder Kylie Hammonds launched a lead-off home run to left field to begin league play. Senior third baseman Jesiana Mora followed it up with a double to the same spot, later scoring off an RBI from junior outfielder Karson Davey for a 2-0 lead.

Another leadoff hit came in the second inning courtesy of sophomore outfielder Bella Foran, who later came home on a sacrifice fly from Mora. Sophomore Lily Holtje added an RBI single to go up 4-0.

THE TURNING POINT
In the top of the third, redshirt senior second baseman McKenna Mulholland's solo shot grew the lead, her fourth home run of the year.

Two more Owl runners came home in the fourth with Foran stealing home and Holtje adding her second RBI of the day to score Mora, extending FAU's streak of at least one run to 10 straight innings.

THE FINISH
Charlotte responded in the bottom of the fifth, loading the bases and clearing them with a triple. Another run scored in the sixth frame to bring the score to 7-4.

Hammonds bookended her 3-for-3 outing with her second solo home run to lead off the seventh. Mora hit one of her own in the very next at-bat, the season's second occurrence of back-to-back FAU homers.

After checking in at the bottom of the sixth, graduate pitcher Ainsley Lambert shut the door and did not allow a hit in the final inning to secure the win.

NOTES/NOTABLE

Florida Atlantic has logged 32 hits in the last two games.
The Owls have won 13 out of their last 15. In those wins, they are outscoring opponents 108-23.
Now at six home runs on the season, Hammonds has already set her collegiate career high. Her three hits on the night mark her single-game best.
Holtje has reached base safely in 16 consecutive games.
Mulholland recorded her team-best seventh hit-by-pitch.
Senior first baseman Yani Guzman has recorded multiple hits in three out of the last four games.

QUOTABLE

Postgame with @CoachJordanFAU #WIP🏝️pic.twitter.com/B8HtrIxY8K
— Florida Atlantic Softball (@FAUSoftball) March 7, 2026

UP NEXT
The Owls will look to win the series when they take the field on Saturday at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.

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.