MIAMI (Feb. 14, 2015) – The FIU softball team (6-3) erased a tough, 2-0, loss to the Memphis Tigers with a convincing 12-4, five-inning, run-rule win over the LIU Brooklyn Blackbirds in the night cap.
Game 1: Memphis 2, FIU 0
Junior Corinne Jenkins (4-3) got tagged with the complete game loss and despite the outcome, pitched a solid five-hit, five-strikeout game.
She settled into her zone early, picking up four strikeouts during the first thee frames but a costly error in the infield granted Memphis two unearned runs in the bottom half of the third inning, which proved to be the difference maker, when Cierra Magnum drove two in on a single to center.
FIU retired the side in the bottom of the forth and found itself in a nice bases loaded position in the top of the sixth. Freshman Ashley Belans began things with a hard-hit double to right-center and senior Rebekah Sanchez and sophomore Stephanie Texeira each worked the count full and walked. A questionable call during sophomore Gabby Spallone's at bat wiped the Panther threat and kept FIU scoreless through six innings.
The Panthers looked to be properly aligned again in its final chance in the top of the seventh, with Belans and Sanchez each singling to the outfield. After an unsuccessful sacrifice bunt attempt, Texeira gave the ball a ride, but Memphis' center fielder was able to track it down, although the runners were able to tag and advance into scoring position. Spallone also sent a shot deep to left-center, but it was tracked down by the Tigers' Hannah Harrell.
Game Two: FIU 12, LIU 4
Senior Shelby Graves made the start in the circle for FIU but was relieved after one inning by sophomore Brianna Bartuccio, who picked up her first win as a Panthers and went four innings, struck out one and limited the Blackbirds to just one run.
Freshman Ashely Belans shined for the Panthers, picking up her first-career home run in grand slam fashion to make the game out of reach for LIU midway through, despite the Blackbirds' early success.
The Blackbirds were able to get to Graves early, tagging her for three runs in one-plus innings of work. Bartuccio came into a tricky no-out, two-on situation and fanned her first batter on three-straight pitches. From there, with the bases loaded, Belans got the force out at home, while freshman Jessica Hallett went across the diamond to end the frame and the threat, keeping the deficit 3-0 through two innings.
Two LIU errors in the home half of the second granted FIU its first run of the ballgame. Senior Krystal Garcia reached on an errant throw from the Blackbirds' third basemen and took second cleanly when the ball rolled to the outfield. Graves made it two on after getting plunked, while a groundout by junior Aleima Lopez moved both runners into scoring position. Heads up base running by Garcia allowed her to take home safely on an errant throw by the LIU catcher back to the circle. Texeira ended the game via the run rule off a single in the fifth inning that plated Sanchez from second, who doubled.
The Panthers were able to register their first hit and wipe a no-hitter in the third inning. A walk to Sanchez and four-straight balls to Texeira put two on with two away for Spallone, who cleared the bases with a double that just missed clearing the wall in center. Belans' grand slam in the fourth inning highlighted a seven-run inning for the Panthers, as the team took a 10-4 lead.
FIU closes out its home stand tomorrow with an early morning matchups versus Purdue and LIU. First pitch is slated for 10 a.m. from Felsberg Field at FIU Softball Stadium.
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)
#####
About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports, and is a proud member of Conference USA. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and the FIU Football Stadium.
About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. It is a public research university with colleges and schools that offers more than 180 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU contributes $9.8 billion each year to the local economy. FIU is Worlds Ahead in finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded over 200,000 degrees and enrolls more than 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell, FIU@I-75, and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU also supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has over 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.
