DENTON, Texas ? The University of South Alabama softball team fell to Florida Atlantic 7-1 Thursday night in the second round of play at the Sun Belt Conference Championship.

No. 6 USA (27-27-1) fell behind early in the first when Blair Bodenmiller homered to left center in the second at-bat of the game to put seventh-seeded FAU up 1-0.

In the top of the fifth the Owls (29-28) extended their lead to 3-0 when a Jaguar error with bases loaded allowed Ambar Jones and Bodenmiller to score unearned.

FAU pushed their lead to 5-0 in the sixth when Becky Brandies hit a solo home run to left field and Kerri Croney followed with a homer of her own to left center.

Katy Neal came in to get the final two outs of the inning, as Beth Pilgrim (17-13) left the game after 5.1 innings of work and five strikeouts. Neal would finish the game after 1.2 innings pitched.

USA brought the score to 5-1 in the bottom of the sixth when Christin Crocker hit an RBI-single to left that plated pinch runner Kelsey Volz. Crocker went 1-for-2 at the plate with one RBI.

In the seventh, the Owls clenched the 7-1 win after Bodenmiller scored in an Amy Bukovich at-bat and Bliss came home on a Rose Greesley single to right. Bodenmiller was 3-for-3 at the plate with three runs scored and one RBI.

Gressley (9-11) notched the win after 6.0 innings in the circle and one strikeout. Carrie Potter came in for the Owls in the top of the bottom of the seventh to get the final three outs of the game.

USA will play Friday at 12:30 against No. 3 Western Kentucky.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).