MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. (Feb. 20, 2015) – The FIU softball team (8-5) used a powerful first inning to hand the Villanova Wildcats a 4-0 loss in the first game of the EMU Madeira Beach Invitational on Friday morning.
Sophomore
Brianna Bartuccio (2-0) got her first start in a Panthers uniform and went the distance, pitching a complete-game, four-hit shutout.
Sophomore
Gabby Spallone hit the first grand slam of her career as part of the third multi-RBI game for the Panthers' center fielder this season. In all, six different players for FIU registered hits.
FIU's offense was prominent from the get-go, as the first three Panthers to face Villanova's Kate Poppe walked. With clean-up hitter Spallone at the plate, the sophomore took a 2-1 count over the fence in right field for her first home run of 2015. FIU sent 10 batters to the plate in the first frame, with four reaching on hits. FIU was able to load the bases in each of the first three innings.
The Wildcats threatened in the top of the third when the first two batters reached and stood on second and third. After sophomore
Stephanie Texeira got the unassisted putout at first base for out number one, senior
Krystal Garcia ended the threat with an unassisted double play at third base off a line drive, tagging out the Wildcat runner at third. Villanova again put two on in the fourth, as the Panthers' defense continued to suffocate any offense Villanova provided. Freshman catcher
Kaitlyne Musa picked off a Wildcat baserunner taking too large of a lead at first base before Bartuccio delivered three-straight strikes to end the visiting half of the fourth.
Bartuccio continued to cruise in the sixth inning and only needed eight pitches to retire Villanova in order. Villanova tried to get a rally started in the seventh inning when two Wildcats reached but a flyout of senior
Rbekah Sanchez in left field sealed the deal.
FIU plays again at 4 p.m. versus the Wichita State Shockers.
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)
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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/.
