No. 25 Owls Set Run Record in Series Opener

BOCA RATON, Fla. – In a historic offensive showing, the No. 25 Florida Atlantic softball team set a program record in runs with a 24-2 victory over Memphis to open its final home series of the 2025 season on Friday evening.
 
The Owls (38-9, 18-4) exploded out of the gate with 10 runs in the bottom of the first inning and did not let up, culminating with nine additional runs in the fourth to break the school’s record that stood for 30 years.
 
After falling behind 2-0 in the top of the first, junior pitcher Autumn Courtney and senior Gabby Sacco combined to keep the Tigers (17-31, 4-18) scoreless the rest of the way.
 

The Tigers began the outing with a two-run home run in the game’s opening frame before Courtney recorded her second strikeout to retire the side.
 
In what has become a common occurrence, redshirt sophomore outfielder Kylie Hammonds recorded a leadoff walk for the first of 15 plate appearances in the bottom of the first inning. With a single to second base, junior third baseman Jesiana Mora logged the game’s first RBI. Four consecutive walks loaded the bases to bring in three more runs.
 
Back-to-back hits from Hammonds and sophomore shortstop Kiley Channell brought home four. Freshman Destiny Johns logged the last hit of the inning, scoring Mora for the second time to put double digits on the board.
 

The Owls added a run off an RBI double from Hammonds in the bottom of the second. 
 
Bats then returned in the third frame with homers from Mora and sophomore Bella Cimino to give FAU their season high of 15 runs.
 

With the run-rule already in reach, Florida Atlantic kept their foot on the gas in the bottom of the fourth, with 12 consecutive base runners to open the inning. Several freshman Owls received opportunities off the bench, most notably Emilie Ching who launched a double to right center field for her first career hit to score two. 
 
A two-run single from Channell put 22 on the board, breaking the previous record of 20. FAU added the final two runs with Ching’s second hit of the inning. The defense went one-two-three in the top of the fifth to put the history-making game officially in the record books.
 

• Florida Atlantic now has six run-rule wins in American Athletic Conference play and 12 during the season, the most since its debut campaign in 1995.
• 17 total hits by the Owls are the most in a game by the team since 2015.
• Mora tied the single-game program record with five runs. She also takes the team’s lead in home runs on the season with eight and added two stolen bases to remain a perfect 16-for-16 in attempts. 
• 11 different FAU batters recorded an RBI, led by Ching with four. Hammonds, Channell, and Cimino each had three.
• Hammonds has reached base in 17 consecutive games and 44 out of 48 appearances in 2025.
• Courtney had five strikeouts in three innings of work and is up to 144 total on the season, upping her AAC lead to 34 more than second place. 

Game two’s first pitch is scheduled for Saturday at 2 p.m. on ESPN+.
 

For the Owls’ complete schedule, click HERE. To follow the team socially, visit @fausoftball, or for the most up-to-date information, go to www.fausports.com.