After a loss to FIU last Wednesday, the Owls headed into their weekend series against USF needing to bounce back, something they have shown no issue doing this season and that was the case once again. The Owls took 2 out of 3 from their cross state rival, getting solid pitching from their ace Autumn Courtney and timely hitting from their veteran bats.
The Owls have shown resilience all season and did it in this very series, winning the 3rd game to avoid their first series loss of the season and put their loss to FIU in the rear view mirror. Next up for FAU will be another key matchup, this time with North Texas heading to town looking to knock off the Owls and assert themselves as a contender for the AAC title.
With North Texas coming to town, the Owls will have to capitalize on their momentum they’ve gained by winning the series Vs USF and lucky for them they will be back at home in front of a fanbase which has grown as the season went on and now features a center-field tailgate with a DJ, led by X user “Hoot N Holler,” which makes Joan Joyce field an even more difficult place to come in and win.
Below will be takeaways from the Owls series win, as well as a look ahead at UNT.
Autumn Courtney shuts down USF bats in wins
Autumn Courtney has dominated this season in general for FAU and this weekend against USF was no different, as the Owls ace starred in the circle during FAU’s 2 wins.
In game one against USF, the Owls bats handled business, building a 3 run lead after the second inning that spiraled into an 8-0 run rule after 5 innings. In the circle maintaining that lead, and picking up the win, was Autumn Courtney, who pitched all 5 innings, allowing no runs, while walking just one and allowing just 2 hits, while striking out 4 on the day.
Courtney didn’t appear in the Owls 7-3 Saturday loss, however she was given the opportunity in the circle once again in FAU’s 5-1 win Sunday and she didn’t disappoint. Although she was relieved by Ainsley Lambert in the 6th, Courtney pitched 5 shutout innings, picking up the win and striking out 3, while only allowing 3 hits.
On the year, Courtney is up to a 12-1 record with a 1.25 ERA, also striking out 91 batters to only 24 walks, showing every bit of the ace material Coach Clark hoped for last season. Now winding down AAC play, FAU needs Courtney to maintain her mojo so they have a dominating arm for the playoffs.
Veteran Owls get the job done at the plate
The story this season has largely revolved around FAU’s new additions, as Chloe Yeatts and Destiny Johns have stolen a lot of the spotlight at the plate. This weekend however, it was Kiley Channell and Kylie Hammonds who dominated, combining for 9 RBIs, 9 hits, and 2 runs scored in the Owls series victory.
In game one their success started early on, as in the second inning Hammonds had an RBI single to give FAU a 2-0 lead and in the 5th Hammonds had another RBI single and Channell had one of her own to clinch the Owls 8-0 run rule victory. Although the Owls lost game 2, Channell picked up 2 more hits and 2 RBIs on the day, giving the Owls some offense in a game where it was hard to find.
Finally in the Owls series clinching victory, Channell and Hammonds came through once again, with Hammonds recording 2 hits on the day including a 2 RBI single to break things open for the Owls in the 3rd, while Channell had an RBI single in the 6th to pad the lead in what went on to be a 5-1 FAU victory.
The newcomers have dominated this season for FAU softball and if the both the veterans and new additions heat up heading into the postseason, this FAU team will be a hard one to knock off in a one game scenario.
Owls show resilience once again
As it has been all season, the Owls have not let the highs get them too high or the lows get them too low and against USF that was the case once again. Heading into the series, the Owls needed to bounce back as a midweek loss to FIU could have potentially started a downward spiral, however they stopped that narrative in game one of the series.
The Owls came out guns blazing in game one of the series, getting a dominating performance from Autumn Courtney and a barrage at the plate to run rule the Bulls 8-0 and push that loss to FIU past them. Resilience was needed once again in the series finale, as after a game 2 loss saw USF dominate at the plate, the Bulls were a win away from stealing a road series against FAU, however that wasn’t in the cards, as FAU dominated USF 5-1, stranding multiple Bulls in scoring position with clutch pitching.
When FAU has needed to bounce back this season, they have been able to do it and should they find themselves in a do or die situation in the postseason, they will have had the experience necessary to overcome it by winning series like this during the regular season.
Up next 4/11-4/13 at home vs UNT
UNT record: 28-13, wins over Texas Tech & Baylor, series wins over UTSA, Tulsa, and Memphis
UNT hitter to watch: Cierra Simon, .389 BAA, 4 HRs 29 RBIs
UNT pitcher to watch: Anneca Anderson, 11-3, 3.29 ERA, 56 SO-68BB