Santiago Archieri/ Staff Writer
The FIU softball team won their final four games of the Juiceblendz invitational tournament, which they hosted at Felsberg Field this weekend. The Panthers went 4-1 overall, only dropping their first game to the 10th ranked Florida State University Seminoles.
The action kicked off Friday, Feb. 12, against the Seminoles of FSU, in what was a tightly contested matchup for the first five innings. The game was all tied up heading into the top of the sixth inning, with both teams bringing in unearned runs off errors. In the sixth, another throwing error gave FSU the 2-1 advantage, and it stayed this way heading into the last inning of play.
Florida State then ensued to break the game wide open, scoring five runs and going on to win 7-1. Three errors haunted the Panthers, and Corinne Jenkins, the leader of the pitching rotation, dropped to 0-1 with 3 ERA after the game.
The Panthers had no time to dwell, as they had a doubleheader on Saturday, Feb. 13. The first game of the day was against St. Johns University, with Abby Summers starting at the mound.
FIU found themselves in an early deficit at the top of the second, but a 1-0 lead was nothing to be concerned about. FIU took the lead just a half inning later after Kaitlyne Musa brought in two runs with a single. The Panthers went on to dominate the game, with another run in the bottom of the fourth and three more in the bottom of the fifth.
Summers picked up her first win, allowing 9 hits but only one run, with four strikeouts in 7 innings.
The second game of the evening featured FIU against University of Illinois. The Panthers were once again down early in the contest, as the Illini took a 1-0 lead after the first inning. However, in the bottom of the second inning, FIU bounced back with a 2-1 lead. The Illini were able to tie the game heading into a big fourth inning.
A four run fourth inning was highlighted with one of the most electrifying plays in all of sports. Enter: Stephanie Texeira with a runner on second base. Texeira knocked one straight into left field. A few bounces and dings later, Texeira recorded a two RBI inside-the-park homerun.
A 6-1 FIU lead was quickly cut after Illinois recorded their own inside the park homerun after the ball sailed straight over the second baseman in a throwing error. However, FIU added some cushion in the fifth, taking an 8-5 lead. In the sixth, Texeira got another home run, but this one sailing over the fences, and the Panthers took a 10-5 lead into the final inning of play.
The final rally by Illinois wasn’t enough, and FIU went on to win 10-8. Jenkins allowed two runs, but picked up her first win of the season. Hunter Scharf was awarded the save for the Panthers.
FIU was prepared to close the weekend on a strong note against Long Island University- Brooklyn and Valparaiso University. Rachel Dwyer, the sophomore pitcher, took the mound in the first game of the afternoon against LIU.
Dwyer went on to pitch 4.2 innings with just one earned run. She walked two, but was able to earn the win at the end of it all, her first of the season.
The Panthers dominated the first match of the day. LIU was unable to stop the Panther hitting, which scored in the first three innings. The lead was 6-0 before LIU finally got a run in. With a 6-2 lead in the sixth, Texeira hit her third homerun of the season as she crushed it over the fences and gave the Panthers a 9-2 lead, which would ultimately be the final score.
The Panthers also had no problem with Valparaiso in the second game of the afternoon. Megan Kugelmann got her first career start for FIU, pitching with one earned run and five strikeouts in five innings.
With the game out of hand, the run rule put the game to an end in the fifth inning as FIU went on to win 9-1. Three Panther managed to get 2 hits in the game, while Lauren Williams led the squad with 3 RBI’s.
The Panthers went 2-0 for the day and would end the tournament on a great note. 28 combined runs in a 3 game span is a positive remark for Coach Gator Rebhan and his girls, with a 4-1 overall record heading into the next slate of games.
FIU will host the Panther invitational this weekend, as Indiana University, Holy Cross University, and the University of Delaware will visit sunny South Florida to be a part of the tournament. The first game for FIU will be on Friday at 4:30 pm against Holy Cross, and then at 7pm with the second match of a double header against Indiana.
About Post Author
