FIU Softball Get Their Second Win In The Panther Invitational

Alex Rivera/Staff Writer

After another Friday night game delayed, the Panthers took to the field to start their second game in the Panther Invitational against Ball State University, a day after their 5-3 win against Tulsa.

After a scoreless first inning, Ball State was able to load the bases with only one out. Haley Wynn was able to get a hit to left field that would be caught, allowing Haley Dominique to score the first run of the game with two outs. After a short pitching battle between Allison Muraskin and Amaia Daniel that went on for seven pitches, but with runners on base, felt like an eternity.

The Panthers would respond in the second inning after Jocelyn Alonso was thrown out at first, Kayla Whitehead was able to get a hit over the left infield and was able to get to first before the ball was caught. With a runner on first, Vanessa Gallegos was up to bat, with the first two pitches being thrown outside the box. She was then thrown a strike right down the middle. With the count 2-1, Gallegos was able to get a hit that would find itself to the outside of the left-field, she had just scored her first home run of the season, and brought FIU to a 2-1 lead over Ball State.

After the bottom of the second inning, Muraskin would go three up and three down with the Ball State players, two strikeouts and one pop-up. The bottom of the third would be different. The Panthers were able to get runners on the corners, but would ultimately lead to no runs after Jocelyn Alonso’s swinging strikeout.

The bottom of the third would see five FIU batters, with Tori Jones and Alexis Johns getting on base. Britanny Phillips would be able to get on base, but Johns was caught out, but Jones was able to get to third.  Jessica Rivera would hit a pop-up that kept Jones from running home, but not before Phillips stole second. Jocelyn Alonso would face Ball State pitcher Alyssa Rothwell, getting to a full count before a swinging strikeout.

For the second time, Muraskin would go three up and three down.  A pop-out and a line drive to left field in consecutive at-bats would bring the first two outs. The third out would be a grounder that would be muffed, but ultimately thrown to first for the third out.

The bottom of the fourth would see Madison Lewis get the walk with two outs. AnnMarie cooker would hit a fair ball to left, allowing Lewis to advance from first to third, until she continued home and was caught, the third out.

In the top of the fifth, the Cardinals would get a hit after Johns dropped what would have been the third out of the inning, allowing Daniel to get a double Stacey Payton would come up to bat, and even after getting into a pitcher’s count, was able to get a hit to right and bring in a run, as well as another double.

Phillips would come up to bat with two outs and no one on base. In the second pitch f the at-bat, Philips would be hit in what appeared to be the face, advancing her to first. Rivera would follow, hitting a pop-up that would be dropped, where Phillips was able to get home to earn a run, while Rivera made it to second. With a runner on second and two outs, Alonso was up, and Rothwell would throw three balls before she would pause to regather. She would throw a fourth ball, bringing Alonso to first. Whitehead would get to her at-bat, and get a hit down the middle, Rivera was able to get home for the fourth run of the game, but Philips was caught between third and second, ending the inning.

After a scoreless sixth inning, Muraskin would pitch another one-two-three inning, which came to an end with pinch hitter Kendall Field was struck out. The Panthers won their second game of the Panther Invitational and their seventh of the season.

FIU will close out their play in the Panther Invitational with a doubleheader, starting at 5:30 against Samford, followed by a game against Maryland.