March 22, 2003

Liberty 3, FAU 1 (Box Score and Play-by-Play)

FAU 3, Manhattan 1 (Box Score and Play-by-Play

BOCA RATON, FL -- Florida Atlantic University salvaged a split on the final day of action at the FAU "Parents' Weekend" Invitational Saturday in Boca Raton, FL. The Lady Owls defeated Manhattan College, 3-1, after falling to Liberty by the same score earlier in the day. Pam Mazzarella picked up her second win in as many days as FAU improved to 18-19.

In the day's first game, Liberty broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the top of the sixth. FAU rallied in the bottom of the seventh when Ginny Matthews was hit by a pitch with two outs and the bases loaded. That pulled the Lady Owls to within 3-1. However, Callie Piper lined hard into the third-baseman's glove to end the game.

Amanda Morin (8-11) suffered the loss. She allowed three runs on four hits with two strikeouts.

Against Manhattan, FAU had to fend off a pesky Lady Jaspers team that had been outscored, 23-0, by FAU in their previous two meetings. Once again, it was Mazzarella who provided the spark in the circle. The sophomore improved to 2-2, allowing one run on three hits with four strikeouts.

At the plate, FAU took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Matthews scored an unearned run. Manhattan tied it at 1-1 in the bottom of the first before FAU regained the lead in the third. With one out and runners at the corners, Jenn Piazza scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-1 FAU. The Lady Owls added an insurance run in the seventh as Evans scored on a wild pitch.

FAU collected a total of eight hits on the day. Matthews and Piazza each had two while Matthews had the lone RBI.

Florida Atlantic next hosts Samford March 28 at 6:00pm. The doubleheader will mark the beginning of Atlantic Sun Conference play for the Lady Owls, who have won six consecutive A-Sun championships.