FAU softball sits comfortably atop the AAC standings after their 3rd sweep in 4 attempts during AAC play, as the Owls went to San Antonio and swept UTSA this past weekend. Although the Owls lost their mid-week matchup with FIU following the sweep, FAU is now 32-6 and holds a 2 game lead in conference standings over USF, who heads to Boca this weekend for a pivotal series.
The Owls flexed their hitting prowess against UTSA, blowing out the Road Runners in every game and where in some series they had to play the comeback card, this series was pure domination. Although the bats stood out due to the lopsided scores, the pitching was just as good this weekend and FAU is firing on all cylinders heading into the midst of conference play.
The key with this squad all year has been their ability to not let their highs get them too high and not letting their lows get them too low and following their worst loss of the season on Wednesday against FIU, the Owls will have to show that ability to bounce back this weekend against USF.
Below will be some takeaways from the Owls past 4 games, as well as a look ahead at their next opponent, USF.
Owls outscore Road Runners 38-5
The headline says it all, FAU dominated the Road runners this weekend and it wasn’t really close. The Owls never trailed this weekend, taking a lead in the first inning in 2 out of the 3 games and the 2nd inning in the other and while UTSA attempted to claw back, FAU wasn’t letting that happen.
The domination started right away, as in game one the Owls made quick work of the Road Runners, defeating them 13-0 in 5 innings, with both Jesiana Mora and Chloe Yeatts each recording 3 hit performances and combining for 8 RBIs on the day. In game 2, the Owls run-ruled UTSA 14-3 once again, getting 4 different players with multi-hit performances, with Kiley Channell recording 5 RBIs on the day.
Finally, in game 3 the Owls did it once again, run-ruling UTSA 11-2, behind another 4 player multi-hit barrage and 4 more RBIs from Jesiana Mora, going home with a sweep after playing just 15 innings.
The bats for FAU were ferocious this past weekend and although they cooled down against FIU, the Owls dominating an AAC opponent the way that they did is a good sign going forward.
Owls hold UTSA to just 8 hits and 5 runs in 3 games
As previously mentioned, the bats stole the show this weekend in San Antonio, but it was the pitching that made their contributions prove fruitful.
Right away in the Owls first game, Autumn Courtney did what she does, pitching a complete game shutout in the Owls 13-0 win, holding the Road Runners to just one hit and 2 walks, while also striking out 7 and moving her record on the year to 17-3. The Owls went with a more diverse approach in games 2 and 3, as in game 2 Gabby Sacco and Ainsley Lambert combined to pitch 5 innings, with Lambert pitching a scoreless inning and two-thirds to slam the door, while in game 3 they used Courtney for 2 innings, Jaden Martinez for 2 and Ainsley Lambert to close the door and Martinez and Lambert both pitched hitless appearances to clinch the sweep for the Owls.
Although there were bumps in the road at times, the Owls pitching staff did what they do all season and bounced back, giving Coach Clark and co what they needed to clinch a dominating sweep on the road.
FIU gets the best of the Owls in midweek road game
After the Owls went into Sweetwater with all the momentum in the world, it was the Panthers who got the best of them and knocked off FAU 5-2 on Wednesday night. It is a 1-1 split in the seasons series between FAU and FIU and although the Owls didn’t get swept, a loss to FIU in general gives that same feeling.
After the offensive onslaught this weekend, the bats went quiet after the first inning in this one, recording 12 hits overall on the day but that translated to no runs after the first inning and ultimately a 5-2 loss. The pitching wasn’t able to continue its dominance after the sweep over UTSA, as Jaden Martinez allowed 4 runs in less than 3 innings and this time a comeback wasn’t in the cards for FAU.
The good thing for Owl nation is that Softball has bounced back from their losses this season, not letting them catapult into something bigger and with a pivotal weekend series ahead, they can put that loss behind them with a strong showing against USF.
Look Ahead at USF 4/4-4/6
Bulls Record: 29-10-1
Series wins: FGCU, UAB, Charlotte, ECU
Hitter to watch: Alex Wilkes, .354, 9 HRs 40 RBIs
Pitcher to watch: Payton Dixon, 14-4, 2.14 ERA, 82so-42BB