MIAMI – Sophomore JessicaRivera hit a grand slam to lead FIU to an 8-5 victory over UTSA in the series finale in Conference USA action Sunday afternoon.
FIU (14-14, 1-2 FIU) led 6-0 on the strength of a trio of singles and a grand slam in the bottom of the first. UTSA (12-10, 2-1 C-USA) answered with a 3 RBI double from junior Bailee Baldwin in the top of the third. However, the Roadrunners would not find the equalizer to face their first conference loss of the season.
With UTSA trailing 6-0, Baldwin connected on a three-run double to right field in the third inning to cut FIU's lead to three. The junior drove in Candice Hadd, Kylea Nix, and Abigail Haston, who reached on a single, fielder's choice and a walk, respectively.
The Panthers cushioned their advantage in the bottom of the third, earning two runs with a walk and a single up the middle on a loaded bases situation.
Relentless, the Roadrunners battled to add two more runs over the next three innings. In the top of the fifth, Nix crushed a single up the middle that scored senior Erica Sanchez from third. Freshman Victoria Villarreal added UTSA's last run in the top of the sixth with a single to left center. The rookie plated Baldwin, who reached on her second double of the day.
UTSA threatened in the top of the seventh with a walk and a NIX single to left field, but a strikeout and a ground out to first for the Roadrunners ended the game.
FIU completed the win with eight runs on 11 hits and a UTSA fielding miscue. UTSA tallied eight hits in the setback, led by two hits from Baldwin, Nix, and Hadd.
Starting for FIU, pitcher Shannon Sailes threw 7.0 frames, walking five Roadrunners and striking out 11. Freshman Madison Nelson got the start for UTSA delivering 2.2 innings of work while senior Lizzy Fox completed the game with 3.1 innings pitched.
UTSA won the series after sweeping Saturday's doubleheader by scores of 3-2 and 2-0.
Up Next
UTSA will continue its Florida tour as UCF and Georgia Southern are on the Wednesday slate. The doubleheader will begin at 9:30 a.m. CT in Orlando, Fla.