Box Score JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Junior Carmen Perez blasted a clutch double to center with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh to lift the FIU softball team to a 5-3 come-from-behind victory at North Florida on Wednesday afternoon.
 
The Panthers (19-22) entered the seventh inning trailing 3-1 and proceeded to load the bases with one out.  Freshman Isabella Perez forced home the first run of the frame after drawing a walk before Carmen Perez followed with the two RBI double to put FIU ahead for good at 4-2. 
 
Freshman Ella Whitney brought home the final run of the inning with a sacrifice fly that scored Isabella Perez.
 
Freshman Brooke McNichols (7-3) pitched a perfect seventh to seal the victory and earn the win after going a total of 2.1 innings of relief and limiting the Ospreys to three hits and no runs.
 
Ashley Connor (8-12) was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs, four of which were earned and four hits over three innings.  She walked four and struck out one.
 
Carmen Perez, who finished with a total of three RBI, got the game's scoring started when she laced a single to center to drive home Isabella Perez in the top of the first and put FIU ahead 1-0.
 
North Florida (21-20-1) tied the score at 1-1 in the bottom half of the first on a triple from Chloe Culp that plated Kayla Harper, who reached on a walk.
 
The Ospreys took the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth.  Shannon Glover provided the first run with a run-scoring double to left, before Culp drove home Glover with a single up the middle.  Both runs were scored with two outs.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers return home for their penultimate home Conference USA series as they are slated to host Middle Tennessee in a three-game set beginning on Friday, April 21 at Felsberg Field in a 6 p.m. first pitch.
  

Carmen Perez with the game-winning blast 💥 to spark a rally in the 7th at North Florida‼️#PawsUp pic.twitter.com/BiNn9dfyyV

— FIU Softball (@FIUSoftball) April 19, 2023

 
TICKETS
For more information on FIU Softball season and individual tickets, including student ticketing, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit the FIU Athletics Online Ticket Office.
 
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