Florida Atlantic Owls
Overall Rank: #42
Conference Rank: #2 Sun Belt
Florida Atlantic Team Page
Hall of Fame coach Joan Joyce started the program in 1995 and has never had a losing season. In 2011, the Owls advanced to the Sun Belt Conference Championship for the second time in three years, losing to Louisiana Lafayette, 8-0, in the championship game. Joyce improved her overall coaching record to 714-403. The Owls have made seven appearances in the NCAA Tournament, but the last was in 2006. They have won ten Sun Belt Conference championships.
2011: 34-25 15-9
2011 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Joan Joyce
Field Players:
Six Owls seniors graduated with the biggest loss being pitcher Rose Gressley, who compiled a 20-13 record with a 1.99 ERA and was named All-Sun Belt first team. She ranked 90th in ERA in Division One, averaged 6.3 strikeouts per game and also batted .280, which was third best on the team. She also led the team in homers with four. With Gressley graduated, senior Taylor Fawbush will lead the pitching staff, which will lack college experience. The team has nine freshmen and two of them, Samantha Meser and Paige Bender, are pitchers. Transfer Steph Call (North Carolina State) will probably pitch as well as play first base and has home run power. The team lost three of their top five hitters but returning are top two hitters, seniors Heather Barnes (.318) and Carly Speerin (.296). Barnes and Speerin, however, lack power, each hitting three homers apiece. Barnes batted .338 in conference play and earned first team All-Sun Belt and Sun Belt All-Tourney laurels.
Pitchers:
With the loss of Gressley, Fawbush will be expected to lead the Owls on the mound after posting a 14-11 record with 101 strikeouts in 167 innings pitched. She had 20 complete games and also batted .243. She also can play the infield. How the Owls do will depend on how fast freshmen hurlers, Paige Bender and Samantha Meser, develop. Steph Call, who played for North Carolina State 2009-10, will finish her college career at FAU and can pitch as well as play first base. She played summer ball for the Stratford, Conn. Brakettes and compiled a 9-0 record on the mound, plus established season records of 31 homers and 91 RBIs and batted .393 for the Brakettes who were undefeated (57-0).
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Final Projection:
The Owls will be in rebuilding mode this year and how well they do will depend on how fast freshmen develop. Call could be the difference, however, considering she can pitch and has home run power. The Owls only hit 17 homers last year and eight of those were hit by graduated players. If Call can give the Owls offense and help on the mound, the Owls could top Louisiana Lafayette and possibly earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament.
Projected Postseason: NCAA
Returning Leaders:
At Bats: Heather Barnes, IF, 157
Hits: Heather Barnes, IF, 50
Home Runs: Heather Barnes, IF, 3; Carly Speerin, IF, 3
RBIs: Carly Speerin, IF, 29
Runs: Heather Barnes, IF, 25
Stolen Bases: Heather Barnes, IF, 7
Wins: Taylor Fawbush, P, 14
Innings Pitched: Taylor Fawbush, P, 167
Strikeouts: Taylor Fawbush, P, 101
Saves: Taylor Fawbush, P, 1
