Date Posted: 5/19/2006

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jen Musillo continued to shine in the circle for Florida Atlantic University as the Owls defeated the University of Florida in the opening round of the NCAA Softball Regional 2-0 at Florida Softball Stadium in Gainesville on Friday.

Musillo struck out 11 batters, matching her career high and one short of the FAU postseason record. She set down two batters in each of the first five innings for the first time in her career. “I was just going out there throwing,” noted Musillo. “I wasn’t trying to strike everyone out. It just happened that way. I wasn’t trying to make a record or anything.”

Her six K’s through three innings were a new best for the junior. Musillo matched her career best for strikeouts when she sat down Stacie Pestrak for the second out of the sixth and then issued her first walk of the game one batter later.

Musillo gave up three hits in the game and allowed just two runners to reach second base. All three hits for Florida were singles. “Jen has really come on strong for us,” stated head coach Joan Joyce. “She has really grown throughout the season in her ability to mix up her pitches. She pitched a heck of a game for us today.”

The Owls made a winner of Musillo with two runs in the top of the seventh inning. A walk by senior Danielle Arriaga and single by junior Mandie Fishback put runners on first and second with one out.

Freshman Kala Guy, a First Team All-Atlantic Sun selection, delivered one of the biggest hits of the season for FAU with an RBI single down the rightfield line, scoring pinch runner Lauren Crandall.. “I knew it was out last at-bat,” interjected Guy. “I knew if we didn’t score, then we would have to hold UF and go into extra innings. That was our opportunity to score a run.”

With Marlene Lopez pinch running at third base for Fishback, Guy stole second. Lopez broke for home on the throw and appeared to be caught in a run-down at home plate until a misplay by third baseman Brooke Johnson opened the door for the junior to score.

That’s all Musillo needed to get the win, backing up her 2-0 performance at the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship one week ago. It was there that the junior beat Stetson twice to carry the Owls into the postseason.

Florida Atlantic (34-23) moves into the second round against South Florida (48-23) at 12:00 noon on Saturday. Florida (42-24) will face North Carolina (48-18) at 2:30 p.m. in an elimination game. A second elimination game will be played at 5:00 p.m. between the loser of the FAU-USF game and the winner of the UF-UNC game.

Championship play is Sunday at 12:00 noon.

Notes
: - Florida Atlantic is now 3-0 against Florida in the postseason, getting victories in 2003 and 2001, and 2-0 against the Gators in NCAA play in Gainesville.
- FAU has won 17 of its last 19 games.
- FAU is now 10-12 in NCAA Regional play.