Box Score MIAMI (March 24, 2013) – The FIU Panthers (21-16, 4-4) were forced to play catch-up for the third-consecutive game on Sunday, losing 8-5 to South Alabama (27-5, 5-1) at the FIU Softball Complex.
South Alabama's leadoff hitter, Emily Messer, walked and would score three batters later on the second wild pitch of the inning by Wagnon, giving USA the 1-0 lead.
The Jaguars added five more runs in the third inning, ignited on a grand slam by Julie Moss. Moss would be the final batter Wagnon faced before being replaced by
Corinne Jenkins.
USA added the fifth run of the inning off Jenkins following a double by Kaitlyn Griffith.
During the next at-bat, FIU catcher
Aleima Lopez attempted to pick off Griffith at second, but the throw sailed off the glove of the second baseman into centerfield, allowing Griffith to score, giving USA a 6-0 cushion.
FIU cut the deficit in half in the last of the third inning after the first two batters were retired.
A single by
Nicole Rascon and a fielding error by the shortstop put
Jessy Alfonso on first.
Brie Rojas slammed a three-run homerun, her third on the season, to leftfield, putting the score at 6-3.
South Alabama's Griffin's solo homerun to left in the fifth bumped the lead to 7-3.
Meghan Collins followed with a walk and scored on an Alex Breeden double and a throwing error by the shortstop
Kayla Burri, making the score, 8-3.
FIU closed the gap to 8-5 in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run double by
Rachel Slowik.
South Alabama's starter Hannah Campbell improved to 13-5, tossing a complete game, allowing five runs (none earned) on seven hits, walking three and striking out two.
Wagnon took the loss to fall to 3-2, allowing five runs (all earned) on three hits, walking four and striking out four. Jenkins allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits, walked a
pair and struck out a batter in two innings of work.
Mariah Dawson finished the final 2 2/3 innings, allowing a hit and striking out a pair.
FIU will next travel to Louisiana next Friday, March 29 to take on ULL in a doubleheader set for 4 p.m. CT.
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Twitter (@FIUSoftball) and become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSoftball) for all the latest FIU Softball news. Follow all of FIU's 18 athletic teams on Google+ (FIU Athletics), Twitter (@FIUAthletics), Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSports), YouTube (FIUPanthers), and Instagram (FIUathletics).
The Blue and Gold will play 33 home games at the FIU Softball Complex. Season tickets for the 2013 season cost only $35 for public seating, $20 for FIU employees and alumni, or $70 for the Family Plan (2 Adults and 3 Youth). To purchase single-game or season tickets, call the FIU Ticket Office at (305) FIU-GAME, or online at FIUSPORTS.com.
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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses
(Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including U.S. Century Bank Arena and Alfonso Field at FIU Stadium.
About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. Its colleges and schools offer more than 180 bachelors, masters and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU is worlds ahead in its local and global engagement, finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission and enrolls nearly 48,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. More than 140,000 alumni live and work in South Florida. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.
