FIU Softball Gets Win To Kick-Off the Season

Alex Rivera/Staff Writer

The FIU Panthers took on the California Bears Thursday night as their season opener and the first of their four game Felsberg Invitational tournament. The game proved to be everything Coach Steiner-Wilcoxon, a 6-1 victory.

The bottom of the third is when the game reached peak intensity: the Panthers were able to bring in four runs. It all started with a hit from AnnMarie Cooker, hitting a dribbler to third base. Cooker would be replaced by pinch runner Alyssa Laboy. Tori Jones would come up to bat, and in with a ball on her first pitch, Laboy would steal second. Jones bunted two pitchers later, and the successful bunt allowed Laboy to reach third. 

At this point California pitcher Alexandra Perez  pitched out of the zone when Alexis Johns came up to bat. After the ball, Perez is visibly concerned, and the Bears defense gathers to restructure for a bunt. Johns’ bunt worked, the defense was too preoccupied with catching Laboy, allowing Johns to get to first while Laboy is held at third. Johns would be replaced by pinch runner Alexis Ross.

With runners on the corners, Madison Mendez gets to the batter’s box already showing intent to bunt. With the count at 2-1, Mendez was hit by a pitch, loading the bases. The Bears coach had a meeting with the pitcher, and at first it started to look like Perez was getting back into rhythm with the count 0-2 against Jessica Rivera, until Rivera was able to get a hit into center field where the fielders dropped it, bringing in Laboy and Ross.

With the score 2-0 in favor of FIU, it was Vanessa Gallegos’ turn at bat, which would not amount to much after Gallegos reached a full count against Perez, eventually ending with a hit caught by Perez bringing the second out.

Jocelyn Alonso would be up to bat, Perez still pitching. After getting a strike, Perez pitched into the dirt, with the ball going behind the catcher, allowing Ross to bring in the third run. Two pitches later, Alonso would get a hit beyond the reach of third base and bring in Rivera. FIU 4-0.

The inning would come to an end when Kayla Whitehead would hit her second pitch into the infield, and with a toss, out three. 

The fourth inning brought  no score, and in the top of the fifth, Karlee Sparacino would face FIU pitcher Allison Muraskin. With three pitches, Sparacino was able to score the games only homerun. Score now 4-1.

FIU would respond with Johns’ hit to the center infield, where the second baseman took too long to make the throw, allowing Johns to get another hit. Ross would go up to bat, and in three pitches, Johns was able to make the run to second, stealing the base. It was in this instance that the run and the catch at second base was too quick, the second base umpire making the call, safe. California’s coach was livid, bringing her to the field to have a brief talk with the umpire. With the count at 1-2, Ross hit a pop-up and it was caught. 

Rivera would come up for her second at bat, with the count at 1-1, Rivera bunted, and the defense was again too slow. This would be the ultimate weakness for the Bears, their instances of delay. Gallegos entered the batters box for her second at bat. Rivera steals second, followed by Johns making a run home and is caught. While Johns is running home, Rivera runs for third. The Bears catcher throws to third where the ball is dropped, and Rivera is able to bring in another run. FIU 5-1.

The Bears fail to respond in the top of the sixth, Whitehead at-bat, where she’ll hit a line drive to right and bets up to first base. She’ll be switched out for pinch runner Brianna Bahadue. Madison Lewis, who was 0 for 2 at this point gets a hit on her first pitch bringing Bahadue to second and Lewis moved up to first. 

Cooker was next to bat and was able to bring the count to 3-1 when Bahadue stole second as the ball hits the dirt. On the next pitch, Cooker was able to get a hit and brought in Bahadue for the sixth run of the night. After the score, Perez was relieved from pitching and replaced by Chloe Romero.

Entering the top of the seventh inning, it was clear to everyone in the dugout and on the field: FIU was three outs away from their first win of the season. To start the inning, Muraskin would have to face Sparacino again, who the last time around scored the Bears’ only run. Muraskin would start by throwing a called ball, followed by a strike and another ball. With the count 2-1, Sparacino would hti a pop-up. Out one.

Amani Bradley was next, and in the next three pitches, got a hit bringing her to first base. This one hit was the lifeline of a recovery for California. 

Next for Muraskin, Nicole Hammoude who only went up once before. On the first pitch, Hammoude would hit a line drive to left field and caught. Out two.

California would put in a pinch hitter, lefty Jordan Fines in place for Sabrina Nunez. Muraskin would be able to get a pitchers count when Fines made a hit towards third base, where Jones was able to make the throw to first in time for out three.

With a final score of 6-1, Coach Steiner-Wilcoxon gets her first win as a Panther, and Allison Muraskin gets her first win of the season. Friday at 5 p.m. will be the first game of a doubleheader for the Panthers. 

“We’ve tried to really practice hard, understand when conference comes its Friday, Saturday, Sunday so being prepared physically, mentally prepared for a three-day series which these tournaments are going to do for us…so just trying to build up our stamina.” Coach Steiner-Wilcoxon said about the strategy for Friday