DENTON, Texas - After a perfect 3-0 journey through the bracket, No. 1 seed Florida Atlantic claimed the 2016 Conference USA Softball Championship, by taking down No. 2 seed UAB, 6-0, in at Lovelace Stadium on Saturday afternoon. Kylee Hanson, 2016 C-USA Championship MVP, led the way for the Owls, tossing a completegame, three-hit shutout performance to record the team's 50th overall victory on the season and earn the league's automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament.

CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL [LINK] | OFFICIAL BRACKET [PDF]

2016 CONFERENCE USA CHAMPIONSHIP ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM [PDF]

FINAL STATS/STANDINGS [PDF] | FINAL POSTSEASON PICTURE [PDF]

2016 Conference USA Softball Championship
Hosted by North Texas | Denton, Texas
May 11-14

2016 CONFERENCE USA SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP
G10 - No. 1 Florida Atlantic 6, No. 2 UAB 0

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GAME TEN

BOX SCORE | VIDEO RECAP

Florida Atlantic stormed out to an early lead to take command in the bottom of the first, scoring the game's opening run via a Carnesha Thompson double down the left field line to bring in Delaney Rickey. The Owls added another on an uncharacteristic error by UAB stellar shortstop Caitlin Attfield, the ninth overall pick in the NPF Draft by the Dallas Charge, as Thompson came around to score, giving FAU a 2-0 lead after one complete.

Owl senior Melissa Martinez continued her hot streak down the stretch, that saw her claim the league's final two Player of the Week awards of the season, by knocking in an RBI single to score Emily Lochten in the bottom of the third, extending the lead to 3-0. In the bottom of the fourth, Christina Martinez belted a two-RBI triple to the gap in right center, and a Lochten sac fly to deep left field scored her, all but sealing up the game for Florida Atlantic with a 6-0 advantage.

In the circle, Hanson, the Conference USA Softball Pitcher of the Year, continued the high level of performance she's given all year long. The junior, a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year top ten finalist, went the distance for her nationally-best 15th shutout and 27th complete game, while only allowing three hits, one walk and recording eight strikeouts.

Hanson's record improved to 28-3 on the season, tied for the third-most wins and fourth-best winning percentage in the entire nation, while also having a top-three ERA. After claiming the 6-0 C-USA Championship-clinching victory over the Blazers, Florida Atlantic will now enter NCAA Regional play with 50 wins (and only 7 losses). Only one other team in the nation has more wins than the Owls in 2016 currently, the nationally-ranked No. 1 and defending national champion Florida Gators.

The 2016 NCAA Division I Softball Championship Selection Show is slated for Sunday, May 15, 2016 on ESPNU at 9 p.m. CT.

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The 2016 Conference USA Softball Championship All-Tournament Team and Most Valuable Player, as nominated by the participating school sports information directors and selected by members of the media in attendance, can be found below. The 12-member squad consists of one catcher, one utility player, one designated player, two pitchers, four infielders and three outfielders.

2016 CONFERENCE USA SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
C - Krysta Tutsch, Louisiana Tech
UT - Delaney Rickey, Florida Atlantic
DP - Tatum Buckley, Florida Atlantic
P - Kylee Hanson, Florida Atlantic
P - Cara Goodwin, UAB
IF - Carnesha Thompson, Florida Atlantic
IF - Caitlin Attfield, UAB
IF - Lauren Holifield, Southern Miss
IF - Taria Page, Louisiana Tech
OF -Christina Martinez, Florida Atlantic
OF - JoJo Fallen, UAB
OF - Morgan Turkoly, Louisiana Tech

MVP
Kylee Hanson, Florida Atlantic


For more information on this year's championship event, with broadcast/stats links and more, visit the 2016 C-USA Softball Championship Central Page HERE.

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2016 Conference USA Softball Record Book
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More information on your favorite team can also be found on the school web sites:

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