There is an adage of "are you a part of the problem or the solution?" Since Ainsley Lambert walked onto campus in 2023, the senior has most definitely been Head Softball Coach Jordan Clark's solution.

The hurler from Spanish Fort, Alabama joined the Owls as Clark's first recruit and after transferring from Oregon State, Lambert was asked to make another transition from the game's starter to the closer.  As one to never back down from a challenge she made, the change has seen her flourish with 20 saves and counting. Her 2025 resume currently boasts a nation-leading nine saves.
 
Lambert will miss this week's graduation ceremony traveling with a team who she has helped lead to a No. 24 ranking and is on the verge of securing a back-to-back American Athletic Conference regular season championships.
 
When she is not shutting down offenses, Lambert has applied her studies towards a double major in communications and disaster management. The amount of passion you see from the pitcher on gamedays is not just used for softball. She plans on applying that same passion towards her career as well. After witnessing first-hand, the struggles that her grandmother Ruth endured from a flood in Baton Rouge, Louisiana in August of 2016, Lambert knew she wanted to be a part of the solution. She hopes to work for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), particularly in the hurricane sector.

"I saw how it affected my grandmother, who was one of the lucky ones. I can't imagine how it affected other people, so that inspired me to be more involved with disaster management," says Lambert

Lambert is saving a spot for softball in her future as well, hoping to play at least a season professionally after college; a dream that is becoming more of a reality as of late with the national recognition she has been receiving. She has been strong throughout her entire Florida Atlantic career, leading Conference USA in batting average allowed and tied for first in fewest runs allowed in her debut campaign with the Owls in 2023. In the team's first year as members of the American Athletic Conference, Florida Atlantic won the 2024 regular season championship. Lambert was named first team all-conference. She has also collected multiple weekly conference honors. During her three-year career she had led the Owls in WHIP, batting average against, and strikeouts and is the program's all-time leader in saves.

The 2025 season is not over yet, and Lambert has no intentions of slowing down. Although she has accomplished a lot with the program, there are still some unchecked boxes. On Lambert's official visit, Coach Clark sat her down and told her exactly what she envisioned for the program, the top goals being a conference regular season championship and a conference tournament championship. Some of the other aspirations Clark shared with Lambert was fixing the dugouts, getting a padded wall, improving the cages, and getting a party deck in the outfield. In just three years, the only unchecked box is a conference tournament championship.
"That was what I wanted to be a part of when I committed. I wanted to be a part of something bigger than just playing the game. I've actually gotten to see improvements in the program and see this program get more recognition each season," added Lambert.

This "team first" attitude is something Lambert embodies extremely well. That is the attitude she embraced when asked to change her role on the team to serve as a reliever and closer, something that she has been very successful with. Knowing that it would benefit the team, Lambert didn't think twice.
"I've always been that type of player growing up, whatever you guys need, I'm here. You need me to do this, I'll do it for you."

As she closes her career at Florida Atlantic, Lambert has a better sense of self. Three years after joining the Owls, she was able to fully flourish and be herself at FAU. Lambert believes if she can be her authentic self, that opens the door for the person next to her to be themselves as well. That is how she plays the game in the pitching circle and in life. On the field, you see the pitcher yelling, pointing, and celebrating with her teammates. Off the field she gives the same energy, greeting fellow students, fans, little leaguers and game-day workers in hopes that those around her can feel free to do the same. With one last message to her teammates, Lambert says:

"You are happiest when you are your authentic self."

The Owls have one last away series before they head to Tampa for the American Athletic Conference Tournament on Wednesday, May 7 where they are sure to be focused on being who they know they are and playing the game that they know they have prepared to play.
 

Gallery: (4-30-2025) Spring 2025 Graduates