March 12, 2008

Final Stats

BOCA RATON, FL - The Florida Atlantic (16-12, 2-0) softball team swept its Sun Belt-opening doubleheader from Western Kentucky on Wednesday night.

In the first game, WKU scored in each of the first three innings to take a 3-1 lead. The Owls tied the game in the bottom of the fourth inning on a two-run single by Kerri Croney. FAU took the lead in the sixth inning on an RBI groundout by Amy Bukovich.

The Hilltoppers answered with a run in the top of the seventh to tie the game at four. The scored remained tied until the bottom of the 11th inning when Caitlyn Bliss drove in Blair Bodenmiller on a single to left field to give the Owls the 5-4 win. The game was FAU's longest since a 12-9 loss to Florida International in 15 innings at last year's Sun Belt Conference Tournament.

FAU broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth in the nightcap when Christine Houghtaling scored on a fielder's choice by Ashlyn Parmerter to take a 1-0 lead. Three runs in the bottom of the sixth gave the Owls' a 4-0 lead. Rose Gressley surrendered only three hits while throwing a complete game shutout for her seventh win of the season.

FAU will face the Hilltoppers Thursday night at 6 p.m. in the final game of their three-game conference set.