The Florida Atlantic University softball team lost both games on the second day of the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Invitational, falling to Tennessee and Missouri. The Owls, ranked No. 23, were shut out 8-0 in six innings by No. 2 Tennessee and then dropped a close 2-0 contest to Missouri.
In the first game, freshman Madilyn Byrd made her collegiate debut as starting pitcher but allowed two runs before senior Madison Inscoe took over. Tennessee broke open the game with five runs across the fourth and fifth innings and secured victory with an RBI double in the sixth. FAU managed hits from Destiny Johns, Inscoe, and Bella Foran. Both McKenna Mulholland and Lily Lowery reached base after being hit by pitches. Johns advanced to third base in the second inning but was thrown out at home plate.
Against Missouri, Johns and Jesiana Mora opened with back-to-back hits in the first inning, putting runners in scoring position before two outs ended the threat. In the third inning, Foran reached base on an error and advanced to third but was also ruled out at home plate. Missouri scored both their runs on a triple in the bottom of the third; FAU’s pitching held them scoreless for the rest of the game.
Johns recorded her first double of the tournament while Mora improved her batting average to .500 with a single against Missouri. Holtje collected her tenth hit of the season. Graduate pitcher Ainsley Lambert delivered a perfect 2.1 innings against Missouri.
The Owls (5-4) will conclude their participation in Clearwater by facing James Madison on Sunday, February 15 at 1 p.m., with coverage available on ESPN+ from Field 9 at Eddie C Moore Softball Complex.
For more information about schedules or updates, fans can visit www.fausports.com or follow @fausoftball on social media.
