Softball Adds Owen, Transfer from Gardner-Webb

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall softball head coach Megan Smith Lyon announced the addition of redshirt sophomore Autumn Owen, a slugger from Gardner-Webb.

Owen starred for the Runnin' Bulldogs piling up numerous awards during her time in Boiling Springs, N.C. She was named the 2019 Big South Freshman of the Year and was a Top 25 Finalist for the NFCA Division I Freshman of the Year. Owen has played primarily as a catcher, but has spent time at third base and shortstop. She joins Sydney Nester (June 19) as transfer additions to the Herd.

"I couldn't be more excited about Autumn joining our Herd Softball Family," coach Smith Lyon said. "Autumn is a proven impact player both offensively and defensively. Her grit, fire and infectious competitive demeanor will be a huge addition to our program. We can't wait to see her in green representing the Herd!"

"I chose to transfer to Marshall because I instantly fell in love with the support group they have behind them," Owen said. "Academically, I loved what they had to offer for my major (sport management) and being able to finish a master's with the program as well. I enjoyed the relationships built with the coaches and the girls. I can't wait to be on the field with them. The sky is the limit for this team."

In just 81 games at Gardner-Webb, Owen made her presence known with a .384 batting average, good for fourth all-time in program history, and a career slugging percentage of .760. She drove in 72 runs and hit 17 homers. Owen's also totaled 19 doubles, eight triples and was 21-of-23 in stolen bases.

The Mill Spring, N.C., native got her career started off with a bang. Owen led the Runnin' Bulldogs batting .384. She totaled 28 extra base hits out of 56 hits for the year including 13 home runs, had 50 RBI, slugged .774, 25 walks and had a .469 on base percentage. Her 13 homers is second-most in a single season in team history and the 50 runs batted is third all-time. Owen's .774 slugging percentage was also second-best in Gardner-Webb annals. On the defensive side she finished with a .979 fielding percentage and threw out 17 base-runners.

Owen recorded 15 games with two or more hits including a streak of four-straight to end the season in which she totaled 11 hits while batting .688. She scored two or more runs 10 times on her way to 41 for the year, good for second on the team. Owen had 12 multi-RBI games with a career-high five against Appalachian State, a game where she also hit two home runs as Gardner-Webb won 9-6. She came through with many late clutch hits and runs including blasting a walkoff, 2-run homer in the bottom of the seventh against Campbell.

By the end of the year, Owen was also named First Team All-Big South, Big South All-Freshman Team, NFCA First Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region, and was honored as the Big South Freshman of the Week four times.

The slugger was off to another great start in 2020 batting .386 while helping to lead her team to a 24-5 record, including a 17-game winning streak, before the season came to a halt. Owen recorded 32 hits, scored 25 runs, seven doubles, five triples, four home runs, 22 RBI, 21 walks, 11-of-11 in stolen bases, slugged .735 and had an on base percentage of .505 in just 29 games. She had nine more games of two or more hits, eight games with two or more runs scored and four multi-RBI contests. Owen tied career- highs with three runs scored and five RBI in a win over Canisius as she finished 3-for-3 at the plate with a double, a homer, a walk and a stolen base.

Following a great beginning to her career, Owen was named the 2021 Big South Preseason Co-Player of the Year. However, she missed the entire season due to an injury. With Owen out of the lineup the Runnin' Bulldogs offense suffered through a rough season hitting .195 as a unit after hitting .297 as a team in 2019 and .307 in 2020. Gardner-Webb finished the year with a 5-29 record.

For all of the latest information on the Marshall Softball team, follow the Herd on Twitter @HerdSB, Facebook at Marshall University Softball and on www.herdzone.com.

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