Bryan Palacio/contributing writer
FIU won in dramatic fashion, scoring the game-winning run in extra innings after dropping the first game of two versus Florida Gulf Coast University.
FIU (2-5) faced FGCU (1-1) in a doubleheader at Modesto Madique Campus on Feb. 13. They split the series going 1-1, losing the first and winning the second.
“We made our adjustments; [we] played very excited, [we] had a lot of energy, [we] played great defense, and Corinne was lights out,” said Head Coach Jake Schumann. “With those combinations we’ll usually come out on top, and even if we wouldn’t have, we had a lot of positives going into the weekend.”
The first game ended on a mercy rule when the game got to the sixth inning and the FGCU Eagles were leading 10-0.
Junior Pitcher Mariah Dawson got the start, going into game one of the doubleheader with an ERA of 1.50 but failing to record a win over the weekend dropping her record to 0-3 after the loss.
FGCU struck first, getting a run in the second inning. FIU couldn’t counter and had a tough time getting anything going once again.
The Eagles followed that up with a fourth inning that saw them get four more runs, stretching the lead to a score of 5-0. They went through the entire lineup that inning tallying four singles, two doubles, and two walks.
The fifth inning didn’t get any easier for the Panthers as they saw FGCU score another five runs. They gave up a run on an error by the pitcher as well as a three-run home run.
The game stopped after the Panthers failed to make the game any closer after the fifth inning.
The second game of the series went slightly different. FIU made some adjustments defensively and got some help from their freshman pitcher Corinne Jenkins.
“We were looking for some kids to make adjustments when we talk about adjusting,” said Schumann. “Our kids responded very well, kids who don’t get to play a lot, and they played very aggressively and made a big difference.”
Sophomore Shelbie Wagnon got the start in the second game but had a tough first inning. She gave up a run to go along with a single, a double, and two walks before being replaced by Jenkins.
Jenkins came out fired up and looking to redeem herself after her last outing resulted in an 11-3 mercy rule loss at hands of North Carolina State University.
“This game, more so than the other games, I was looking more pitch by pitch instead of looking at the big picture,” said Jenkins.
“Even looking at the innings themselves, I was looking more pitch by pitch instead of thinking about getting all three outs with one pitch. I had a rough outing last game and I feel like I knew what I needed to work on this week.”
Jenkins (2-1) got the win in her relief spot. She went 7 2/3 innings giving up one run on only one hit, and no walks, while also recording nine strikeouts.
“Well I just asked her, ‘Are you ready to go in with the bases loaded?’ and she said, ‘yes sir’ and that’s all I needed, she had that look in her eye and she was ready to go,” Schumann said. “She bounced back like senior would.”
FIU was down 2-0 in the bottom of the third inning when they cut the lead down to one. Senior Jessy Alfonso hit double to centerfield, followed by senior Kayla Burry who brought her home with a single shot between third and first.
In the fifth inning Junior Rachel Slowik recorded a single which would lead to the game tying run after a fielding error would put her on second and in scoring position. Alfonso would come in to clean up and scored a single shot which brought Slowik in for the 2-2 tie.
The game remained tied going into extra innings. The NCAA International Tiebreaker rule starts extra innings with no outs and a runner on second to speed up the game. A spectacular play by Freshman Aleima Lopez would get them out of the eight after she picked up a bunt and tagged out a runner at home and threw to first to complete the inning ending double-play.
In the bottom of the inning, a fielding error on the first baseman on a sacrifice bunt allowed Alfonso the opportunity to run from second just beating the pitch at home, giving the Panthers the 3-2 win.
FIU will host the Blue/Gold Felsberg Memorial starting Friday, Feb. 15 at MMC. They will be taking on Morehead St. University, the University of Connecticut, and Binghamton University during the weekend tournament.
