March 20, 2005

BOCA RATON - After watching teams take advantage of their errors in two losses on Saturday, the Florida Atlantic University softball team capitalized on two Tulsa errors to produce four unearned runs in a 7-0 victory over the Golden Hurricane (18-18) in Sunday's third/fourth place game at the FAU Parents' Weekend Tournament. Sophomore Meghan Doonan continued her superb play of late by throwing a complete-game, four hitter to even her record at 8-8. Doonan has not allowed an earned run in five of her last six appearances and has a 0.68 ERA in her last 31 innings.

The Owls opened their scoring in the second inning. Danielle Arriaga singled to lead things off before Jenn Piazza attempted to move her over with a sacrifice bunt. Tulsa first baseman Katie Torres charged and picked up the bunt but threw wide to first, allowing Arriaga to score as the ball rolled into the FAU dugout. Piazza advanced to third on the play and then scored on Lauren Crandall's RBI double off the wall in left field to make the score 2-0. Crandall then scored on a wild pitch to complete the scoring in the inning.

FAU made it 4-0 in the fourth when pinch runner Marlene Lopez scored on a wild pitch and then increased their lead to 7-0 in the sixth. Lauren Crandall reached on an error before scoring on an RBI single by Jessica Sachs. Charlotte Baird also scored on the play as Tulsa shortstop Stacey Walkingstick's throw went awry. Pam Mazzarella later knocked in Jenna Lopez with a single that completed the rout.

The Owls will host Wisconsin in doubleheader action on Tuesday night before opening Atlantic Sun Conference play with a doubleheader against Lipscomb on Friday night. FAU has won 12 of their last 17 games.

In the tournament's championship game, No. 12 Texas A&M defeated a plucky Michigan State side 1-0 as freshman right-hander Amanda Scarborough no-hit the Spartans. For her efforts Scarborough, who is now 15-0 on the year, was named the tournament's MVP. The fifth/sixth place game saw FIU defeat Wisconsin.