Blue Raiders lose 4-0 to Florida Atlantic

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Corrie Abel was 2-for-3 to increase her team-leading batting average to .358 but Middle Tennessee left 10 runners on base as the Blue Raiders (20-27, 9-10) fell 4-0 to the Florida Atlantic Owls (33-22, 15-6) in the second game of the series at FAU Softball Stadium on Saturday night.

Lindsey Vander Lugt (14-18) got the start and the complete game loss for Middle Tennessee. The lefty gave up two earned runs on eight hits, while striking out four and walking two, in 6.0 innings.

Ross Gressley (15-7) picked up the start and the win for the Owls. The freshman gave up nine hits, while striking out one and walking three in the complete game shutout.

Florida Atlantic opened the scoring in the bottom of the 3rd inning. Lead-off hitter Ambar Jones reached on an error by third baseman Whittney Padgett before Melissa Moore doubled down the left field line to put runners at second and third base, bringing up Lauren Crandall. Crandall tripled to left field for two RBI before Blair Bodenmiller hit an RBI through the left side to make it 3-0 in favor of the home team.

The Owls added one run in the bottom of the 4th inning when Jones hit a RBI double down the left field line to make it 4-0.

The Blue Raiders came close to scoring in the top of the 6th inning. Corrie Abel crushed a single up the middle before advancing to third on a Justine Cerda single through the left side. Martha Davis looked to have knocked out her eighth home run of the season, but her towering drive was caught at the warning track by FAU leftfielder Crandall.

Middle Tennessee led off the final inning promisingly with singles by Caitlin McLure and Brittney Banania to put two runners on base with no outs. Ashley Cline continued things with a single through the right side, but McLure was thrown out at the plate for the first out of the inning. Katie Mielke lined out to the shortstop Blair Bodenmiller for the second out before Abel walked to load the bases again for the Blue Raiders.

The comeback effort was not to be as Davis' shot to the left side allowed FAU's Parmerter to step on third base for the force out to end the game.

The Blue Raiders conclude their three-game series against Florida Atlantic on Sunday at Noon CT.

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