No. 4-Seeded Owls Face No. 5 Charlotte in American Quarterfinals

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic softball team begins its postseason journey as the No. 4 seed in the American Conference Championship, held in Greenville, North Carolina, and will open play Thursday, May 7 against No. 5 Charlotte.

First pitch between the Owls (33-19) and the 49ers (32-25) in the American's Quarterfinal matchup is scheduled for noon on ESPN+.

ALL-TIME SERIES
The Owls hold the all-time series holding a 25-17 mark, including a 7-1 victory in their last meeting back on March 8, 2026. The two are 1-1 when playing at a neutral site.

LAST TIME OUT
The Owls won their season finale series against UAB on Joan Joyce Field at FAU Softball Stadium, taking two games. Florida Atlantic held on to a 5-4 victory in the opener before a walk-off RBI from senior Madison Inscoe secured the series. 10 seniors were honored for their contributions to the program in the finale.

ABOUT THE OWLS

Head Coach Jordan Clark is in her fourth season and holds a record of 154-67. Clark and her assistants received the American Conference Coaching Staff of the Year recognition in both 2024 and '25.
As a team, FAU leads the American fielding percentage (.979), hit-by-pitches (46), runs and opposing batting average (.243).
Florida Atlantic's fielding percentage ranks No. 8 nationwide.
Senior pitcher Autumn Courtney and redshirt junior outfielder Kylie Hammonds each earned a spot on the American's All-Conference First Team. They are the first Owl duo in program history to be named first team all-conference in consecutive seasons.
Courtney became the program's fifth All-American in May of 2025 after winning the unanimous American Conference Pitcher of the Year honor. In 2026, she has earned two American Pitcher of the Week Awards and currently leads the team with 120 strikeouts and is second in the conference with 17 victories. Courtney is No. 4 nationally among all active players with 77 career wins and No. 9 in strikeouts with 740. In March, she was named the Palm Beach County Amateur Athlete of the Year.
Hammonds leads the team in hits (58), runs (50), home runs (nine), and on-base percentage (.490), reaching base in 47 games. During league play, Hammonds recorded an on-base percentage of .519, highest among all outfielders in the league. She ranked among the top outfielders in runs (23, tied for first), hits (35, second) batting average (.412, second), walks (16, second), and OPS (1.095, third).
Senior third baseman Jesiana Mora leads the Owls in batting average (.388) and RBI (40). On Feb. 28 against Coastal Carolina, she tied FAU's single-game record in walks with four. Mora has been retired via strikeout just four times in 2026 and has only struck out 30 times in her collegiate career. She has brought down that number each season with 12 (2023), eight (2024), six (2025) and just four in 2026.
In the last 22 games, redshirt junior outfielder Ciara Gibson is batting .345 with 20 hits, 12 runs, six homers and 20 RBI. She drove in at least one run in 10 straight appearances.
During conference play, senior catcher Chloe Yeatts leads the team with 25 RBI.
Sophomore Lily Holtje has earned both an American Player of the Week and two Honorable Mention recognitions. She leads the Owls in walks (28).
In 112 at-bats, sophomore outfielder Bella Foran has struck out just three times. She is batting .357, which is third on the team.
Graduate pitcher Ainsley Lambert is No. 4 nationally with six saves and is the career leader among all active Division I players with 28.

ABOUT THE 49ERS

Head Coach Courtney Breault is in her second year with the program.
Redshirt senior third baseman Jenna Lord and sophomore catcher Audrey Wilson were named second team all-conference.
In the circle, sophomore pitcher Taylor Jones has made a team-high 24 starts and owns a 4.21 ERA.
Charlotte leads the American in hits with 440.
The Owls won the season series 2-1 on the road, keyed by Hammonds hitting three home runs over the course of the three-game series.

UP NEXT
If the Owls win, they face No. 1 seed South Florida in the semifinals on Friday, May 8 at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.

OWLS ON SOCIAL MEDIA
To stay up to date on all things FAU softball, follow the Owls on social media @FAUSoftball.

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