FIU Softball Falls to UCF, Blows Out South Dakota

Daniela Manzo / Staff writer

The FIU Softball team lost to the Central Florida Knights in Orlando on Thursday, March 11, but rebounded at home against the South Dakota Coyotes in a tripleheader on March 13 and 14. 

Currently, FIU holds a record of 8-11 and are standing in fifth place out of six teams in Conference USA. 

UCF dominated the scoreboard, earning seven runs by the bottom of the fifth inning. They kept FIU scoreless until the top of the sixth where they

 were able to take advantage of a shortstop error from the Knights, bringing home outfielder Madison Lewis.  

Following the loss to UCF, FIU played their final three games in Miami against the South Dakota Coyotes. 

During game one, the Panthers took an early lead when outfielder Brittany Phillips batted a single to left field with bases loaded during the bottom of the second, allowing third baseman Brianna Hill to drive home the first run of the game. 

The Panthers followed it up with a sacrifice single by shortstop Jessica Rivera adding another run to their 2-0 lead. Both teams then split runs in the third inning, raising the score to 3-1. However, in the top of the sixth, the Coyotes scored six runs off three singles, a triple, and a sacrifice fly, stealing a 7-3 lead. 

FIU responded with a run by catcher Carmen Perez in the bottom of the sixth to shorten the lead to 7-4. In the bottom of the seventh, the Panthers scored four runs from two singles by second baseman Venessa Gallegos and first baseman Kayla Whitehead, along with a double by Hill. A walk from Lewis resulted in Hill scoring on a passed ball, securing a walk-off 8-7 win.

Game two took place later the same day, and the Coyotes took the early run in the first inning and added to it in the third to lead 2-0.

In the fourth inning, the Panthers tied the game off a triple by Whitehead and an error from South Dakota’s third baseman. In the bottom of the fifth, Rivera scored a three-run homer giving FIU a 5-2 lead. The Panthers added an extra run off a sacrifice fly by third baseman Jocelyn Alonso. 

Center fielder Gaby Ruiz and Rivera scored two more runs in the bottom of the sixth, securing an 8-2 win for the Panthers.

In game three of the series, the Panthers didn’t let up on offense, as they earned two runs in the first inning from two singles by Rivera and Whitehead. The Coyotes were able to steal a run in the top of the third, but that was their only run of the game, down 2-1.

FIU responded in the bottom of the third with three runs from a single by outfielder Alexis Ross, a double by Rivera, and an error off of South Dakota’s catcher. Then, they scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth, sealing a 9-1 win and a sweep against the Coyotes. 

The Panthers will stay at home for a game against the Florida Atlantic Owls on Sunday, March 21st at 3pm, which will be their first C-USA matchup of the season. They’ll then travel to Statesboro, Georgia to take on the Georgia Southern Eagles on Friday, March 26th at 3pm and 5pm, then finish the series on Saturday, March 27th at noon.