FAU 6, USA 3
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MOBILE, Ala. – Sun Belt Conference foe Florida Atlantic scored three runs in the eighth to defeat the University of South Alabama softball team 6-3 in extra-innings Wednesday night at Jaguar Field.
With the loss, the Jaguars fall to 27-12 overall and 7-7 in conference play. The Owls moved to 26-18 on the season and 10-3 in SBC action.
“(Florida Atlantic) got the timely hits and we didn’t, and that was the difference in the ball game,” USA head coach Becky Clark said. “We had opportunities to score and we didn’t take advantage of them. I felt like this was a game that we could have won if we would have stepped up when we needed to.”
FAU starting pitching Rose Gressley (14-8) was credited with the win after going the distance in the circle, fanning six and allowing only three runs. She also led the Owl offense with a 2-for 3 performance at the plate.
Sophomore pitcher Morgan Druhan (8-6) took the loss for the Jags. She struck out five and walked four in 7.1 innings of work.
Haley Richards and Christin Crocker paced the Jaguars at the plate with two hits and one RBI apiece. Brittany Fowler, Haley Hopkins and Katy Neal also recorded on hit apiece for USA.
The Jaguars jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning scoring one run on two hits. Richards drew a walk and Fowler followed with a single up the middle. Hopkins then reached on a fielder’s choice to advance Richards to third and put runners at the corners. Crocker then lined a singled off FAU shortstop Carly Speerin to plate Richards.
The Owls answered in the top of the third with a pair of unearned runs. With two outs, Hailey Broyles reached on a walk and Kerri Croney advanced two bases on a Jenny Stevens error. Brittany Walker then hit a two-run double off the left field wall to bring home Broyles and Croney.
Florida Atlantic extended its lead in the top of the fourth with another run. Gressley led off the inning with a single to right centerfield and with two outs, third baseman Ashlynn Parmerter dropped a single into shallow centerfield to drive in Gressley. FAU loaded the bases after a Broyles walk, but Druhan forced the final out of the inning when Croney popped up to the short stop to get out of the jam.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Jags evened the score. Moss launched her second career home run of over the left field wall and two batters later, Richards tied the contest at 3-3 with a bomb to nearly the exact same spot – the first of her career.
The Jags had a chance to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Neal singled down the right field line to advance Carolina Mendoza, who walked to begin the inning, to third. Gressley though didn’t allow USA to take the lead as she was able to get Britany Campbell to pop out on the infield, leaving the two runners on base.
After two scoreless innings, FAU’s Heather Barnes led off the eighth with a home over the left centerfield wall – her first of the season - and later in the inning, Cari Caufman lined a two-run single to right center to put the Owls up 6-3.
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).
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