MIAMI, Fla. (March 9, 2016) -- After a combined 25 runs scored in the first game of a Wednesday doubleheader, FIU and Notre Dame got into more of a pitching contest in the nightcap. Trading a pair of home runs in the seventh, No. 20/23 Notre Dame came out on top 6-3 at Felsberg Field in the FIU Softball Stadium Wednesday night in college softball action.
The loss drops the Panthers to 14-10, while the Irish improve to 18-3, winning the last 14 contests.
The Fighting Irish put up a run early in the contest with an RBI-single up the middle. In the third inning, Notre Dame improved their lead, 2-0, with another RBI-single.
The Panthers put up the equalizer in the bottom of the fifth to tie the score at two. Sophomore
Michaela Mills (Hastings, Minnesota) reached base off a single to center field. She later scored on a throwing error. Senior
Aleima Lopez (Deltona, Florida / Deltona HS) reached on an error, and her pinch runner, freshman
Deven Kennedy (Montgomery, Alabama), scored on another throwing error.
In the top of the sixth, Notre Dame regained the lead with an sacrifice fly. In the seventh inning, the Fighting Irish extended their lead on a thee-run homer to put the score at 6-2.
In the bottom of the seventh, freshman
Jackie Schoff (Bradenton, Florida / Lakewood Ranch HS) hit a leadoff homer, the first of her career, over the left field wall, for the final scoring play of the contest.
Senior
Corinne Jenkins (Sarasota, Florida / Riverview HS) dropped her record to 2-4, allowing 11 hits and six runs, all earned.
The Notre Dame winning pitcher, Katie Beriont, improved to 4-1, allowing three hits and three runs.
The Panthers will return to action this Saturday, March 12, as they kick-off conference play with a home doubleheader against Charlotte. First pitch is set for 5 p.m.
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/
