• Paradise Brew
  • Posts
  • Paradise Brew 5/9: Circle Up! Owls Hit the Semis

Paradise Brew 5/9: Circle Up! Owls Hit the Semis

The No. 1-seed FAU softball team's postseason begins today with a matchup against No. 4-seed North Texas in the AAC Tournament Semifinals.

Good Morning, Owl Family. The No. 1-seed Florida Atlantic softball team's postseason begins today with a matchup against No. 4-seed North Texas in the American Athletic Conference Tournament Semifinals. First pitch between the Owls (44-9, 20-4) and the Mean Green (35-20, 16-11) is at 1 p.m. on ESPNU, held at the USF Softball Stadium in Tampa.
 
With a win, FAU would advance to the AAC Tournament Championship for a chance at an automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals.

What else do we have mixed into today’s Brew? Check it out below!

🎥 Episode 29 of Inside the Owls Burrow is out now!
⚾️ Baseball hosts USF for a three-game weekend series
🦉 And much, much more

A smile can brighten someone’s day! Let’s celebrate the benefits of a healthy smile and raise awareness about dental health.

  1. Confidence Booster: A healthy smile boosts self-esteem. Clean, healthy teeth make you feel better about your appearance, enhancing personal and professional relationships.

  2. Improves General Health: Good oral hygiene prevents dental issues like cavities and gum disease and is linked to better overall health, reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory infections.

  3. Enhances Digestion: Healthy teeth are essential for proper digestion. Effective chewing promotes better nutrient absorption and overall digestive health.

  4. Radiates Happiness: Smiles are contagious! A genuine smile lifts others’ spirits and spreads joy.

Remember, a healthy smile reflects your overall well-being. Prioritize your oral healtH and inspire others. Schedule a dental appointment today to keep your smile bright!

🔼 High-Stakes Baseball Comin’ in Hot. FAU baseball hosts USF for a three-game weekend series beginning tonight at 6:35 p.m. on ESPN+. Prior to Saturday's 4 p.m. first pitch, this year's 12 seniors will be recognized in a presentation beginning at 3:30. Sunday's finale between the Owls (32-16, 12-9) and the Bulls (25-21, 12-9) is scheduled for a noon start.

FAU and USF enter this weekend in a three-way tie for second place in the AAC. Charlotte, whom USF won two of three games against in mid-April, is also part of that tie with six games remaining in the regular season.  

🔼 Burrowing Into Softball, BVB & More. Episode 29 of Florida Atlantic's Inside the Owls' Burrow airs tonight at 5:30 p.m. ET and again tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. The show originates on FanDuel Sports Network Florida and can also be viewed on fausports.com and YouTube.

This week's show features softball freshmen Destiny Johns and Bella Foran, who have been constants in the No. 24 ranked softball team's lineup and were named to AAC All-Freshmen team. "Getting to Know" features BVB’s Olivia Strandberg with guest host Sydney Schroder in "Life's a Beach." FAU QB Caden Veltkamp is "Wired for Sound" during spring practice, and we take a look at the 2025 Football Ladies Night.

🔼 Paradise Found. Florida Atlantic football, led by first-year head coach Zach Kittley, will play its 25th Homecoming Game on Saturday, Nov. 8, versus Tulsa. The Owl Family Weekend celebration takes place on Saturday, Oct. 11, when the Owls play host to UAB.
 
Both contests are American Athletic Conference games and will be held in conjunction with on-campus festivities which will be announced later.

🔼 For Your Amusement. After back-to-back weekends on the road, Mac’s Musings is back home for senior weekend. This week, Coach Mac offers some of the behind-the-scenes details of a chaotic weekend in New Orleans, pays tribute to the 12 seniors, and gives his thoughts on recent events in the big leagues.

🔼 Forward Thinking. Florida Atlantic head WBB coach LeAnn Freeland added a dynamic offensive and defensive playmaker in junior college transfer forward Vivian Onugha on Thursday.
 
Onugha, a native of Lagos, Nigeria, arrives in Boca Raton after playing her first two collegiate seasons at Barton Community College. She finished her career with the Cougars ranking first in career rebounds (828). During the 2024-25 season, Onugha played in and started all 32 games and helped lead the Cougars to a quarterfinal finish in the NJCAA Region 6 Tournament.

🔼 No Heads in the Sand. After capturing its second CUSA Championship, third conference title all-time and earning its third NCAA Beach Volleyball Championship appearance in program history, the Florida Atlantic beach volleyball team comes in at No. 15 in the final American Volleyball Coaches Association Poll.
 
The 2025 CUSA champions finished the season at 21-15 overall and 4-2 in CUSA play, marking the fourth 20-win season and tying for the second-most single-season wins in program history.

🤓 Florida Atlantic Athletics recently announced the Academic Progress Rate (APR) numbers in the 2023-24 academic year. How many FAU teams achieved a perfect score of 1,000?

Got a guess?

Scroll to the bottom to find out!

Softball Doing Softball Things. Florida Atlantic Softball led the way in the AAC for the second straight season, securing Coaching Staff of the Year honors as just one of the team’s many accolades.

🏆 Head to our X/Twitter page to see the other honorees! 🥎

The Week Ahead is brought to you by our friends at Sage Dental, who are creating a modern, family-friendly approach to dentistry with one thing in mind—you. From pediatric dentistry and orthodontics to teeth cleanings and oral surgery, they work to provide you and your family the best dental care all in one place.

*All Times Are in ET

Friday, May 9
🥎 Softball vs. North Texas @ American Athletic Conference Tournament in Tampa, Florida @ 1 p.m. ESPNU | Live Stats 
⚾️ Baseball vs. USF @ 6:30 p.m. ESPN+ | Live Stats | Tickets

Saturday, May 10
⚾️ Baseball vs. USF @ 4 p.m. ESPN+ | Live Stats | Tickets

Sunday, May 11
⚾️ Baseball vs. USF @ Noon ESPN+ | Live Stats | Tickets

On Your Fall Radar

Saturday, Oct. 11
🏈 Football Owl Family Weekend vs. UAB @ Time TBA

Saturday, Nov. 8
🏈 Football Homecoming Game vs. Tulsa @ Time TBA

🦉 Go here for the complete Florida Atlantic University Athletics Calendar

Paradise Trivia is brought to you by Choice Mortgage Group, the Official Mortgage Lender of Florida Atlantic Athletics.

The Answer: Three!

Three teams achieved a perfect APR score of 1,000: women's cross country, women's golf and volleyball. This marks the fourth consecutive academic year in which these three reached the maximum score.

🦉 Have a spectacular weekend, Owl Fam!