Florida Atlantic Softball Begins American Conference Play at Charlotte

BOCA RATON, Fla. – The Florida Atlantic University softball team begins its third season of American Athletic Conference play this Friday with a three-game series against Charlotte. The series will be played in Charlotte, North Carolina, with games scheduled for 6:00 PM on Friday, 1:00 PM on Saturday, and 12:00 PM on Sunday. All games will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Owls Seeking Third Consecutive Championship

The Owls (17-6) are aiming for their third straight American Athletic Conference regular season championship and a third consecutive series win over the Charlotte 49ers (12-10). Florida Atlantic currently boasts a five-game winning streak and has won 12 of its last 14 games, outscoring opponents by a significant margin of 99-19.

Recent Performance

In their most recent outing, Florida Atlantic achieved a season-high in both runs and hits, defeating FGCU 14-5 in a run-rule victory. Six Owls recorded multiple hits, including a career-high three hits from senior first baseman Yani Guzman. The team scored in every inning and showcased power with home runs from sophomore Lily Holtje and senior catcher Chloe Yeatts.

Head Coach Jordan Clark and Program Success

Head Coach Jordan Clark is in her fourth season leading the program, having compiled a record of 138-54. Clark and her coaching staff have been recognized with the American Athletic Conference Coaching Staff of the Year award in both 2024, and 2025. Florida Atlantic was ranked No. 1 in the American Conference Preseason Coaches’ Poll as back-to-back regular season champions.

Key Players to Watch

Senior pitcher Autumn Courtney was named an All-American in May 2025 and earned American Conference Pitcher of the Year honors. She started the 2026 season by being named American Pitcher of the Week and currently leads the team with 46 strikeouts and a 2.70 ERA. Sophomore Lily Holtje leads the Owls in batting average (.448), hits (26), and on-base percentage (.553). Redshirt junior outfielder Kylie Hammonds has hit four home runs and leads the team in runs scored (23).

About the Charlotte 49ers

Charlotte is led by Head Coach Courtney Breault, who has a 42-37 record across two seasons. Junior outfielder Teagen Ritchie leads the 49ers and the American Athletic Conference with seven home runs. Reigning American Player of the Year Jenna Lord has recorded 29 hits and 23 runs. Sophomore pitcher Taylor Jones leads the conference with 11 starts.

Looking Ahead

Following the series at Charlotte, Florida Atlantic will return to Joan Joyce Field at FAU Softball Stadium to host East Carolina from Friday, March 13 to Sunday, March 13. All games will be broadcast on ESPN+.

Stay Connected: Follow the FAU softball team on @FAUSoftball for the latest updates.