SAN ANTONIO — Bailee Baldwin slugged a three-run home run, but FIU used a three-run seventh inning to down the UTSA softball team, 7-4, on Sunday afternoon at Roadrunner Field.
The Panthers improved to 32-10 overall and 8-4 in Conference USA by salvaging game three of the series. The Roadrunners fell to 16-24 and 6-9.
Baldwin hit her second home run in as many days with a line drive shot to left-center field in the bottom of the third inning. Her seventh long ball of the season tied the score at 3-3.
FIU answered with a solo homer down the left-field line by Julia Gilbert in the top of the fourth to reclaim the lead, 4-1.
However, UTSA responded with a run in the home half of the frame. Kaley Pyles and Hailey Garza drew back-to-back walks to start the inning and force FIU to make a call to the bullpen to relieve starter Shannon Saile with Abby Summers. Taylor Oberg then laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance both runners and Angelica Nino followed with a sac fly to left field to plate pinch-runner Madison Kinley and knot the game at 4-4.
The score remained tied until the top of the seventh. Dani Mowry drilled a solo round-tripper to right center to break the tie. The Panthers then added a pair of insurance runs on when Brianna Bahadue lined a single to left center, one of her two hits on the day, that plated two.
Lindsey Stewart led the UTSA offense with two hits, while Celeste Loughman joined Stewart and Baldwin in the hit column by going 1-for-3.
Summers tossed four scoreless frames in relief to run her record to 10-0. Lizzy Fox (10-12) took the loss after giving up two runs on four hits in 3.1 frames.
The Roadrunners will return to action on Friday-Saturday, April 14-15, when they travel to Hattiesburg, Miss., for a three-game league set at Southern Miss.
