BOCA RATON, Fla. ? The South Alabama softball team dropped a 6-1 decision Sunday afternoon to Florida Atlantic in the series finale at the FAU Softball Stadium.  The start of the game was delayed for an hour due to rain in and around the Boca Raton area and was further delayed in the bottom of the first with a 45 minute lightning delay.

USA (17-17, 3-6 SBC) will continue on the road when the Jags travel to Nicholls State for an afternoon doubleheader versus the Colonials.  First pitch of game one is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Florida Atlantic improves to 25-18 and 7-2 in the Sun Belt Conference with the win.

South Alabama threatened to get in the scoring column first in the top of the first loading the bases with just one out, but Owl starting pitcher Amber Barton was able to work out of the early jam.  Barton induced an infield pop out and a fly out to left to get out of the early trouble. 

In the bottom of the second Florida Atlantic erupted for four runs.  Amy Bukovich plated the Owls first run of the inning with a one out RBI single to center that scored pinch runner Jessica Myers from second.  After an infield fly, FAU leftfielder Lauren Crandell increased the Jag deficit to 2-0 when she lined a double to center to bring in another run.  Melissa Moore then singled of Jag third baseman Corey Race’s glove to score Buckovich from third.  On the play, Florida Atlantic got their fourth run of the inning when the ball was mishandled, allowing Candell to score and put FAU up 4-0.

The Owls also added runs in the fourth and sixth innings en route to the five run victory.

USA finally broke through and prevented the shut out with a run in the sixth.  After FAU’s Barton had retired 15 of the previous 18 Jag batters, Jenny Stevens lined a double to the center field wall to score Julie Morton from second.  Morton was pinch running for designated player Autumn Hudson, who had singled to lead off the inning.

Barton (14-12) picked up the win for the Owls, going the distance, while USA starting pitcher Beth Pilgrim fell to 9-7 on the season, going just an inning and two-thirds.