Daniela Manzo / Contributing Writer
The FIU’s softball team fell short at the Spring Games Invitational in Clermont as they only won the final match in a four-game series.
FIU lost their first matchup against the Kentucky Wildcats last Friday by a score of 5-6, followed by another 3-4 loss against the New Mexico State Aggies on the same day. They then lost by a score of 6-8 to the Stetson Hatters the next day, but rebounded with an 11-5 win against the Aggies.
The Panthers currently hold a record of 5-7 and have not yet played a Conference USA opponent in. NThey’re currently in fourth place out of the six teams in the Eastern Division of the conference.
Game one against the undefeated Wildcats was an offensive stalemate for the first couple of innings, however the Wildcats homered into center field and scored two runs in the bottom of the third, giving them a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the fourth inning, FIU second baseman Venessa Gallegos solo homered to left field and put up the first run for the Panthers. Later in the inning, FIU took advantage of a fielding error from Kentucky’s shortstop to tie the game.
Both teams exchanged runs in the 5th inning, and FIU earned two runs in the sixth to take the lead by a score of 5-4. In the bottom of the seventh, the Wildcats tripled into right center field with the bases loaded, and walked the game off with a final score of 6-5.
Later the same day, FIU matched up with the Aggies for the first time. New Mexico State held the lead in the third inning, and never let FIU take it back as they held on through seven innings with a final score of 4-3.
FIU began day two of the tournament against the Stetson Hatters Stetson began the game scoring three runs, taking an early 3-0 lead. FIU responded with five runs in the next four innings to jump to a 5-3 lead.
The Hatters answered in the fifth inning, while FIU earned a run later on to have a narrow 6-5 lead. Stetson was able to earn one more run in the sixth inning, tying the game and sending it into extra innings. In the top of the eighth, Stetson scored two runs that FIU couldn’t answer, escaping the game with a 8-6 win.
In the last game of the tournament, the Panthers rematched the Aggies once again. This time, it was an offensive show for FIU. The Panthers scored nine runs in the first three innings of play, followed by two more runs in the top of the seventh for good measure.
New Mexico State only scored five runs, but it wasn’t nearly enough as the Panthers cruised by with an 11-5 win.
Up next for FIU is the FAU Invitational in Boca Raton, beginning on Friday, March 5th at 1pm as the Panthers will take on the Illinois State Redbirds, followed later in the day with the Pittsburgh Panthers at 3:30pm. On Saturday, March 6th, FIU will rematch with Illinois State at 12:30pm, and finish the invitational against the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at 3pm.
About Post Author
