Thursday, May 11, 2006

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- The host Florida Atlantic University softball team got a battle but used outstanding pitching to shutout no. 5 East Tennessee State 1-0 in first round action at the 2006
Atlantic Sun Conference Softball Championship at FAU Softball Stadium on Thursday.

Freshman Kathryn Stauffer threw 5 1/3 scoreless innings, giving up three hits and striking out one with no walks in moving to 10-13 on the year. She gave way to junior Meghan Doonan, who ended the sixth by inducing a rare flyout-groundout double play to centerfield with a runner on first base. Doonan closed the game by setting down four straight batters to earn her second save of the season.

ETSU’s Mary Catherine Vercoe went six innings, allowing five walks and two hits in falling to 9-13. Florida Atlantic took advantage of a leadoff walk to freshman Kala Guy in the second. Guy eventually scored the game’s lone tally on a two-out double by sophomore Charlotte Baird.

No. 2 Florida Atlantic (30-22) is back action at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday in second round winners’ bracket action against Campbell. ETSU (20-35) awaits the loser of the Stetson/Gardner-Webb contest for its second-round game at 4:00 p.m.

Release courtesy of FAU Athletic Communications