MIAMI – Sophomore Gabby Ruiz crossed the plate for the winning run on a wild pitch in the bottom as the FIU softball team walked off with a 6-5 victory over Drexel on Sunday afternoon in its final game at the FIU Softball Invitational.
The Panthers also defeated Brown in their first action on Sunday, as they manufactured four runs to rally back from an early 2-0 deficit in posting a 4-2 win over the Bears.
The pair of victories improve FIU's overall record to 8-9 overall and extend its current winning streak to four games.
FIU fell behind early against Drexel as the Dragons opened a 1-0 edge on an RBI single by Grace Abbonizio in the top of the second.
Venessa Gallegos laced an RBI single in the bottom of the third that tied the score at 1-1.
Alyssa Laboy gave the Panthers' their first lead of the game at 2-1 with a successful swipe off home on the back-half of a double steal in the bottom of the fourth. Ashley Errio once again tied the score at 2-2 with a solo shot in the top of the sixth, before a run-scoring single by Madison Gaye put Drexel back in front 3-2 in the top of the sixth.
FIU senior
Brittany Phillips punched a clutch two-out, two RBI single to center in the bottom of the sixth to erase a one-run deficit and junior
Madison Lewis followed with an RBI single of her own to lift the Panthers to a 5-3 lead heading into the seventh.
Drexel's Jackie Masone managed to tie the game for Drexel one more time with a two-out, two-run home run to right center off FIU's
Brooklynn Linneman in the top of the seventh. Ruiz scored the winning run off the errant pitch with one-out in the bottom of the seventh after leading off the frame with a single.
In the opener, Brown hit back-to-back solo home runs in the top of the second to claim a 2-0 advantage, but wouldn't be able to score the rest of the way as the Panthers were able to push over four runs without the benefit of a run-scoring hit en route to a 4-2 win.
After falling behind in the top of the first, FIU was able to quickly get things back even at 2-2. Gallegos scored on an RBI groundout by
Hannah Jansen and Ruiz scored on a dropped third strike to teammate
Jianna Simonet.
Brianna Hill put the Panthers ahead for the first time when she drew a bases-loaded walk that scored Lewis and made the score 3-2 in the bottom of the sixth.
Hanna Johanning followed with another free pass with the bases loaded that brough home
Bailey Grossenbacher to account for the final 4-2 margin.
UP NEXT: The Panthers (8-9) return to action at the FIU Softball Stadium on Wednesday, March 2 with a doubleheader against St. John's that is slated for a 10 a.m. ET first pitch.
2022 FIU Softball Invitational Schedule
at FIU Softball Stadium
Friday, Feb. 25
9 a.m. Drexel (4) vs. Brown (3) - FINAL
11:30 a.m. Brown (0) vs. South Dakota (2) - FINAL
2 p.m. Stony Brook (5) vs. Drexel (3) - FINAL
4:30 p.m. FIU (3) vs. South Dakota (13) - FINAL
7 p.m. FIU (2) vs. Stony Brook (6) - FINAL
Saturday, Feb. 26
9 a.m. Drexel (0) vs. South Dakota (4) - FINAL
11:30 a.m. South Dakota (0) vs. Stony Brook (7) - FINAL
2 p.m. FIU (3) vs. Drexel (1) - FINAL
4:30 p.m. Stony Brook (4) vs. Brown (3) - FINAL
7 p.m. FIU (5) vs. Brown (0) - FINAL
Sunday, Feb. 27
9 a.m. Stony Brook (1) vs. South Dakota (3) - FINAL
11:30 a.m. FIU (4) vs. Brown (2) - FINAL
2 p.m. FIU (6) vs. Drexel (5) - FINAL
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