May 10, 2002

Final Stats

TROY, AL - Florida Atlantic University continued to flex its muscle at the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament Friday in Troy, AL. The Lady Owls shut out Georgia State 2-0 behind a two-hit shutout by Nikki Myers to advance to Saturday's championship game. Myers, who moved into third place all-time in NCAA history in strikeouts, was helped by a two-run triple by Rhianna Rogers to account for the game's only scoring.

The win improves FAU to 59-10 on the year and extends its winning streak in A-Sun Tournament play to 23 consecutive victories. It also moves them one win closer to capturing their sixth consecutive A-Sun Tournament championship.

With one out in the second, Pam Mazzarella reached on an infield single and advanced to second on a single by Callie Piper. Both runners advanced on a foul fly by Candice Freel. Rogers followed with the triple to right that scored both Mazzarella and Piper to put FAU up 2-0.

Meanwhile, Myers was cruising through the GSU lineup. She did not allow a hit after the fourth inning. She retired 10 straight after a lead-off single in the fourth before walking two in the seventh.

It was also a historic day for Myers who moved up the NCAA list of leaders in career strikeouts. The milestone strikeout came in the second when Lindsey Bryant went down swinging, giving Myers 1, 344 career strikeouts. Myers also broke her own FAU record for strikeouts in a season. Myers now has 1,351 career strikeouts and 412 this season.

Myers improved to 35-5 on the year and 10-0 lifetime in the A-Sun Tournament. She struck out 10 and walked two. She did not allow a runner to advance past second base. In her three appearances in this year's tournament, Myers has allowed just three hits in 16 shutouts innings.

Florida Atlantic will next face either Troy State, Central Florida, or Georgia State in Saturday's championship game. The winner receives the A-Sun's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.