Saturday, May 13, 2006

BOCA RATON, Fla. -- The Florida Atlantic University softball team is NCAA Tournament-bound for the seventh time in program history after claiming the 2006 Atlantic Sun Conference Softball Championship with an 8-4 win over Stetson on Saturday.

Florida Atlantic showed the true heart of a champion, scoring six runs with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Senior Jessica Sachs and junior Shauna Corso delivered the big blows, as Sachs’ two-RBI single put the Owls into the lead 5-4 and Corso’s three-run home run sealed the victory.

Sophomore Charlotte Baird also had a big hit, plating the first run of the inning with a single. Florida Atlantic recorded seven consecutive two-out hits in the sixth. Sachs finished the game with three hits, two runs and two RBIs. Corso totaled one run and four RBIs on two hits.

Junior Jenna Lopez added two runs and two hits for Florida Atlantic. Classmate Jen Musillo got the win, moving to 11-7 on the year and earning All-Tournament honors. Corso and Sachs were also named to the All-Tournament team. The championship title is the ninth in program history and is the first time since 1998 that FAU has won the championship, not as the No. 1 seed.

Florida Atlantic (33-23) will learn of its destination and opponent in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday at 3:30 when the selections are announced on ESPNews.

All-Tournament Team
Erica Willis, Campbell
Jamie Madruga, Mercer
Jessica Lonsinger, East Tennessee State
Stephanie Gaynord, East Tennessee State
Melissa Wiggins, Stetson
Erica Demers, Stetson
Nicole Forbes, Stetson
Jen Musillo, Florida Atlantic
Jessica Sachs, Florida Atlantic
Shauna Corso, Florida Atlantic

Andrea Migliori, Stetson - MVP

Release courtesy of FAU Athletic Communications

Post-Match Audio

FAU Head Coach Joan Joyce

General statement

on championship atmosphere

FAU junior Shauna Corso

on winning the championship

on FAU's comeback

Stetson Head Coach Frank Griffin

General Statement

on departing seniors