Florida Atlantic softball (31-18) closed its series against the University of Memphis (18-35) with a devastating loss, 4-3, having outscored the Tigers 17 to five in the first two games of the contest. The result evens the Owls’ conference mark at 12-12, and after being predicted to be the AAC’s first seed, they now sit fifth in the standings.

Historically, the Owls have performed well against Memphis. Since their first meeting in February of 2017, a game FAU won 5-0, the Owls hold a commanding 9-1 overall record over the Tigers. This includes both a 5-1 away record and an 8-1 mark in conference play. The Owls have averaged 10 runs per game in the matchup, scoring 103 runs in total.

Friday (April 24, 5 p.m.)

FAU opened the series with a dominant 10-1 victory. The Owls came out swinging, putting together an unanswered, 10-run scoring stretch through the first four innings of the game. At the top of the first inning, senior infielder Jesiana Mora singled through the right side of the infield as teammates Bella Foran reached home from second base and Kylie Hammonds advanced from first to third base.

Mora then swiftly stole second before catcher Chloe Yeatts walked to first base. Junior utility Ciara Gibson followed with an infield, ground-out hit to second base, which plated Hammonds, advanced Mora to third, and Yeatts to second base. Infielder Yani Guzman then also grounded out, driving in Mora and advancing Yeatts to third base. Sophomore Lily Holtje followed with a single to plate Yeatts and give the Owls an early 4-0 lead.

The momentum continued into the second inning as FAU tacked on two more runs, both scored behind 4 consecutive walks. A pitching change at the mound for Memphis to start the third inning had no effect, as back-to-back walks quickly advanced FAU infielders Cameryn Orland to second and Hannah Rivers to first base.

A wild pitch then advanced Orland to third, while Rivers moved to second. After yet another walk, which advanced Foran to first base, the Memphis coaching staff opted for their second pitching substitution of the ball game, with only two full innings having been played.

Mora then hit a sacrifice fly out to center field, which plated Orland and advanced Rivers to third base. Foran followed by stealing second right before Yeatts singled through the left side of the infield in a two-RBI move to plate Rivers and Foran.

In the fourth inning, Guzman rounded out the scoring to cap off the Owls’ 10-run streak. A late run scored in the bottom of the fifth inning from Memphis infielder Ariel Davis was not enough to spark the counterattack, as the Owls secured their first win of the contest, 10-1.

In an efficient game, the FAU offense scored 10 runs and drove in nine runs on five hits. Foran shined with three runs scored, while Yeatts delivered three RBIs, going 1-2 at bat with a run scored, contributing a .238 team batting average and a 2.86 team slugging average.

Saturday (April 25, 3 p.m.)

The Owls earned their second victory the following day in a hard-fought outing in which the Tigers went ahead in the bottom of the first inning. Shortstop Deana Cunningham doubled to right-center field in a two-RBI move to plate teammates Neely Taylor from second and Jasmine Mack from first base.

FAU responded at the top of the second inning. Guzman reached first base from a fielding error. Gibson then doubled down the right field line as Guzman scored, unearned. Memphis answered right back. Freshman pitcher and infielder Taylor Caton singled to plate teammate Paris Brienesse from second base. After a scoreless third inning for either team, the Tigers added another run in the fourth inning to increase their lead, 4-1.

The Owls then surged for a six-run stretch, scoring three in each of the next two innings. In the fifth inning, Mora singled through the right side of the infield, which plated utility Lily Lowery and advanced Foran from first to third base. In the same play, Mora advanced to second base. Hammonds then infield singled to third base to drive in Foran. Holtje followed with a sacrifice fly out to left field which plated Mora and leveled the score, 4-4.

At the top of the sixth inning, Lowery singled to shallow left field. Foran then reached first base on a fielding error as Lowery advanced from first to third base. Foran further advanced to second base before Mora was walked.

Hammonds then singled up the middle in a two-RBI move which plated Lowery and Foran, both unearned. Mora also advanced to second base on the play. Yeatts followed with a single to the same spot as Mora scored, unearned, to round out the FAU comeback.

The game ended 7-4, handing the Owls their second win of the series. Graduate student pitcher Ainsley Lambert impressed on the mound as she recorded season highs in innings pitched (five) and strikeouts (six) while including five fly-outs against 22 batters faced.

Hitters Mora and Hammonds also stood out. Mora had two runs scored while going 2-3 at bat, and Hammonds drove in three RBIs while going 3-4 at bat. As a team, the Owls produced seven runs and seven RBIs on nine hits, all contributing to improved team batting and team slugging averages at .290 and .323, respectively.

Sunday (April 26, 1 p.m.)

FAU suffered a narrow loss in the final game of the series. With the score remaining 0-0 through the first two innings, the Tigers got on the board in the bottom of the third inning. Redshirt senior outfielder Kennedy Semien tripled to right field. Teammate Kayla Clement then hit a sacrifice fly out to left field, which plated Semien to give Memphis the 1-0 lead.

The Owls fired right back at the top of the fourth inning. Junior outfielder Kiley Shelton was walked to first and then advanced to second base following a wild pitch. Pitcher and first baseman Madison Inscoe was also walked to first base. The runners both advanced, Shelton to third and Inscoe to second base, after another wild pitch. Orland then entered the game to pinch hit for Rivers up to bat.

With another walk, Orland reached first and Shelton managed to score, unearned, on a throwing error as Inscoe further advanced to third base. Inscoe then instinctively stole home to put the Owls ahead, 2-1. 

In the fifth inning, Mora ran the bases and scored, unearned, after stealing third to then reach home following a throwing error to increase the FAU lead, 3-1. After an empty sixth for either team, the Tigers posted three late runs scored in the bottom of the seventh inning. Davis singled up the middle, which plated Taylor. Caton then homered beyond deep left field in a two-RBI move to plate herself and Davis, finishing the game 4-3 in a walk-off win for Memphis.

The Owls look to conclude their conference season on an encouraging note against the University of Alabama at Birmingham (20-30) in a three-game series at Joan Joyce Field in Boca Raton from April 30 to May 2.

Jacob Weeks is a Staff Writer for the University Press. Email him at [email protected] for more information on this or other stories.