DeLand, FL.- It’s always a great day to be a Florida Atlantic Owl. It’s an even better time to be a member of the Owls’ Softball program.
This weekend (February 21-23), the FAU Softball team traveled to DeLand, Florida to face off in the Stetson Invitational. The Owls faced off against a strong field, including Long Island University, Marist and the host Stetson University, in a three day- five game series.
The #25 Owls would go on a full sweep, winning all five games:
2/21 v LIU: 11-8
2/21 v Stetson: 8-5
2/22 v LIU: 13-8
2/22 v Marist: 4-3
2/23 v Stetson: 5-3
Owls 𝙒𝙄𝙉, 5-0 in DeLand 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥#WIP🏝️ pic.twitter.com/3TEVYYeMWu
— Florida Atlantic Softball (@FAUSoftball) February 23, 2025
Things were far from easy for FAU, as they would have to battle and overcome multi run deficits during four of the five matchups. With that being said, this was a historic and memorable weekend for multiple reasons.
For starters, Florida Atlantic now sits at 15-2, the best start in program history since 2016 (16-1). During the Owls’ second meeting vs the LIU Sharks, Florida Atlantic would overcome a 8-2 deficit going into the bottom of the 4th, propelled by a program record five home run performance. Speaking of home run shots, the Owls knocked 10 homers by 7 different players across the weekend.
FAU’s freshman second baseman, Destiny Johns hit her first three career homeruns. Sophomores catcher Corin Dammeier and first baseman Bella Cimino also recorded their first career homers this weekend. That’s not all, as junior transfer catcher Chloe Yates and sophomore transfer right fielder Kiley Shelton hit their first home runs in FAU jerseys.
Bringing things to the circle, junior pitcher Autumn Courtney surpassed 500 career strikeouts this weekend. In just six appearances on the year, Autumn has already recorded 48 strikeouts, and is the clear front runner for AAC Pitcher of the Year, with an All-American selection looking more and more likely every pitch.
Cemented her name just three weeks into her junior season 😤
— Florida Atlantic Softball (@FAUSoftball) February 22, 2025
Congrats to @autumnpcourtney for reaching 500 Ks ‼️#WIP🏝️ pic.twitter.com/RIjxqP6ph0
In the Owls’ opening matchup vs Long Island, freshman pitcher Emma Grace Williams made her collegiate debut while earning her first career win. During the same game, freshman Brooke Kuczynski also made her collegiate debut, serving as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the sixth. In FAU’s first three wins, freshman Annika Segedi pinch ran, scoring her first three runs.
Finally, freshman left fielder Bella Foran recorded at least one hit in all five games this weekend. Foran’s best game came in the Owls’ first meeting with Stetson, going 3-4 with three singles. Bella has been one of the most efficient hitters in college softball, currently leading the American Athletic Conference in both Batting Average and Hits, going .510 with 26 hits.
As you can clearly see, FAU’s freshman class had themselves a weekend. Owls’ Head Coach Jordan Clark was more than enthusiastic talking about the impact her freshman have had early:
“I believe that we have eight of the freshman in the country!” Coach Clark enthusiastically said “To see them come up with some big firsts was really exciting. That’s what we do this for we do this for those little moments, the smiles on their faces and seeing that growth piece. I’m so proud of our freshman, I love our freshman and I can’t wait to see them grow into bigger roles and continue to get the job done”
All in all, this was a very successful weekend for the FAU Owls. The Owls will be back in action Wednesday night (February 26), facing off against in-state UCF. First pitch is slated for 6 PM.
