After suffering their first 2 losses of the season during the Joan Joyce classic, FAU wasted no time building a new winning streak last weekend during the Stetson Invitational and at home against FIU. After defeating FIU 5-1 on Wednesday, the Owls won all 5 matchups this weekend in DeLand, defeating Marist once, as well as beating both LIU and Stetson twice.
FAU trailed in all but one of their games this weekend and fended off a late rally in the other, showing serious grit en route to sweeping their second series of the season. In reward of FAU’s 6 game win streak, the Owls found themselves ranked in multiple national polls this week including as high as 22 in D1 Softball, as well as 25 in the NFCA Coaches Poll and Softball America.
Now through 3 full series so far this season FAU softball has seen it all, from exhilarating comeback wins, to heart-breaking defeats and throughout it all they have remained poised, not letting the highs get them too confident or letting the lows dampen their spirit. The Owls are gaining important experience early on, while also winning games in the process and they will look to continue that this week, facing off against their second Big 12 opponent when they face off against UCF on Wednesday before embarking on their second road trip of the year where they will head to Clarksville Tennessee for the Austin Peay Invitational, where they will play 2 matchups a piece against Morehead State and Northern Kentucky, as well as a solo game against Austin Peay.
Below will be takeaways from this past weekend’s series, as well as a look ahead at what’s on-tap for FAU Softball.
Owls show resilience with multiple comeback victories
FAU finished 5-0 during the Stetson Invitational this past weekend, but it wasn’t without some drama before it was all said and done. The Owls first win of the season featured a comeback in extra innings against Ole Miss and although this weekend didn’t have any extra inning contests, each game required FAU to buckle down and find a way to win, which they did.
It started early in the morning on Friday against LIU, as FAU fell behind 4-2 in the top half of the 4th inning, however they scored 9 runs over the final 3 innings on their way to an 11-8 victory, getting 5 RBIs combined between Kiley Shelton and Corin Dammeier. The second half of the double header was the lone game of the weekend where FAU never trailed, however Ainsley Lambert had to battle through a late inning rally from Stetson, as after the Hatters found a way to break through against Autumn Courtney, but Lambert had her back out of the pen, coming on with one out and a runner out second, and not allowing a ball to leave the infield, retiring the next two batters on a pop out and ground ball.
The second tango with LIU on Saturday morning was where FAU really had to batten the hatches, as they found themselves trailing 7-0 after just 2 innings, however they didn’t let that phase them, as they made it 8-5 by the end of the 4th inning, before eventually out-scoring LIU 8-0 over the final 3 innings, getting 7 different Owls with RBIs, including multi-RBI days from Jesiana Mora, Kiley Shelton, Kiley Channell, Bella Cimino and Destiny Johns. The Owls went right into their second Saturday game against Marist and after they fell behind 3-2 in the third inning, it would have been easy to quit playing their second game of the day under the sun, however they found it in themselves for a 5th inning rally, getting a game tying RBI double from Chloe Yeatts and a batter latter Shelton scored Channell on a ground out, giving the Owls a 4-3 lead which Gabby Sacco and Lambert combined to protect.
Finally on Sunday, the theatrics weren’t finished, as Stetson led 3-1 heading into the top of the 7th inning and were looking to spoil the Owls perfect weekend, however Coach Clark and company had different plans. FAU scored 4 in the top of the 7th, getting 3 straight singles with 2 outs, the final one making it 3-2 Stetson before Chloe Yeatts stepped up in the next at-bat and sent a 3 run shot over the wall, giving the Owls a 5-3 lead that Lambert did not surrender.
Any team can win big, but the Owls had their backs up against the wall multiple times this weekend, including down to their final out trailing by multiple runs, however they never faltered and will look to play with serious momentum heading into their Wednesday night match against UCF.
New Owls make contributions once again
FAU has been getting contributions from their new additions this season fairly consistently and this weekend in the Stetson Invitational was no different. It started on the first day, as in game 1 against LIU at the plate Kiley Shelton recorded 3 RBIs, freshman Annika Segedi scored her first run while Brooke Kuczynski had her first plate appearance and in the circle freshman Emma Grace Williams made her first appearance out of the pen, allowing an unearned run in one inning. In game 2 it was the long ball for the new Owls, as Chloe Yeatts and Destiny Johns each homered, joining veteran Kylie Hammonds to make it a 3 home run day for FAU.
In day 2 they kept it rolling at the dish as in game one against LIU, Bella Foran and Yeatts each recorded multi-hit performances, Segedi scored a run off the bench and Destiny Johns recorded her second home run in as many days, recording 2 RBIs and 2 runs scored as well. In game 2 against Marist, Yeatts and Shelton combined to drive in 3 of FAU’s 4 runs on the day, giving the Owls all the offense they needed in a 4-3 victory.
On Sunday in the final game against Stetson, it was Yeatts once again as she tallied her weekend total up to 9 RBIs, driving in 3 with the go-ahead home run in the top of the 7th to seal the deal for FAU’s perfect weekend. It is a recurring theme now that FAU has been getting contributions from their new additions, however it’s not just one new addition, it’s multiple, which will make this team continually dangerous as we move forward.
FAU sets multiple records
The Owls 16-2 start is reminiscent of their 2016 season where they finished 51-9 and made it to a Gainesville regional and this weekend continued their best start since that very year. This weekend, outside of their hot start, they also accomplished multiple statistical feats that helped them on their way to a perfect start.
Against LIU for the second time on Saturday the Owls hit 5 home runs which was a program record and Autumn Courtney recorded her 500th career strikeout, while overall on the weekend Destiny Johns and Bella Cimino each hit their first career home runs and Bella Foran recorded a hit in each of the 5 games played and now sits atop the AAC in batting average.
This FAU squad is off to a remarkable start so far this season and accomplishments like these will continue to mount if their successful start continues.
Up Next
Wednesday 5 PM at home against UCF:
Record: 12-6-1
Pitcher to watch: Kaitlyn Felton, 6-0, 0.79 ERA, 20SO-4BB
Hitter to watch: Sierra Humphreys, .397, 1HR 12 RBIs
Key Wins: NC State, Illinois, Mizzou, Clemson, Pitt
Friday 10:30 AM Neutral Site vs Morehead State:
Record: 1-13
Pitcher to watch: Rylie Burney, 0-6, 6.45 ERA, 15SO-25BB
Hitter to watch: Ilencia Lightbody, .393, 6 RBIs
Friday 1 PM Neutral Site vs Northern Kentucky:
Record: 6-4
Pitcher to watch: Brooklyn Ballis, 3-1, 3.73 ERA, 11SO-9BB
Hitter to watch: Campbell Beatty, .400, 10 RBIs
Saturday 10:30 AM Neutral Site vs Northern Kentucky:
Record: 6-4
Pitcher to watch: Brooklyn Ballis, 3-1, 3.73 ERA, 11SO-9BB
Hitter to watch: Campbell Beatty, .400, 10 RBIs
Saturday 1 PM away vs Austin Peay
Record: 11-3
Pitcher to watch: Ashley Martin, 2-0, 2.51 ERA, 19SO-12BB
Hitter to watch: Kylie Campbell, .447, 2 HR 13 RBI
Sunday 10:30 AM Neutral Site vs Morehead State
Record: 1-13
Pitcher to watch: Rylie Burney, 0-6, 6.45 ERA, 15SO-25BB
Hitter to watch: Ilencia Lightbody, .393, 6 RBIs