March 22, 2005

After seeing their season-best eight-game win streak come to an end at last weekend's FAU Parents' Weekend Tournament, the Florida Atlantic University softball team (18-22) will host Wisconsin on Tuesday night before beginning Atlantic Sun Conference play on Friday night when they take on Lipscomb at FAU Field. The Owls have won a record eight consecutive conference tournaments.

FAU opened play in their final regular season home tournament with a 6-2 loss to No. 12 Texas A&M but rebounded with a 4-3 victory over Wisconsin in their second game on Friday. Needing to win both games on Saturday to make the championship, the Owls instead lost to both Tulsa and Michigan State. Sunday saw the Owls exact revenge over Tulsa, defeating the Golden Hurricane 6-0 in the third/fourth place game.

Individually, sophomore Meghan Doonan had a superb week in the circle, going 3-1 with a 0.78 ERA. For her efforts, Doonan was named the A-Sun Pitcher of the Week on Tuesday by the league office.

Let's take a look at the Owls' opponents this week:

Wisconsin Badgers (7-9) - Tuesday, March 22, 2005, 6 & 8 pm @ FAU Field
The Badgers are coming off a disappointing showing at the FAU Parents' Weekend Tournament. A 5-0 defeat of FIU in their first game was followed by four straight defeats, including a 6-2 loss to FIU in the fifth/sixth place game. UW committed 12 errors in the tournament and hit only .158 with runners in scoring position. Senior Boo Gillette, a Fort Lauderdale product, had three doubles and four RBI in the tournament to lead the team. Sophomore right-hander Eden Brock is off to a solid start in 2005 with a 6-3 record and a 1.97 ERA.
All-time series: FAU leads 3-1.
Last meeting: FAU won 4-3 on 3/18/05.

Lipscomb Bisons (12-11) - Friday, March 25, 2005, 6& 8 pm @ FAU Field
The Owls open their 2005 conference schedule with a doubleheader against the visiting Bisons on Friday. Picked to finish seventh and 10th in the two preseason A-Sun polls, the Bisons are off to a respectable start 2005, having already won 12 games after winning a total of only 18 in 2004. Talented freshmen Leigh Little (.404, 11 RBI) and Heather Collins (.368, 13 RBI) are leading the way offensively for the Bisons while senior Danielle Catalano is 5-3 with a 2.20 ERA.
All-time series: Tied 1-1.
Last meeting: Lipscomb won 3-1 on 3/27/04.

Tickets for both doubleheaders are only $6 for adults and $4 for youths and seniors. For those fans unable to attend the games, live statistics will be available via www.fausports.com.