MIAMI – Although the Roadrunners came out swinging, the Panthers came out even bigger, as FIU (17-18, 4-7 C-USA) downed UTSA softball (6-26, 2-6 C-USA), 9-1, winning the day and the series on the strength of a seven-run second inning, Saturday afternoon on Felsberg Field at FIU Softball Stadium.
For the second game in a row, junior shortstop Kat Ibarra delivered in her first time at the plate, deflecting a shot off pitcher Brooke McNichols to get aboard as the first-inning leadoff batter. Two batters later, junior catcher Taylor Jensen blasted McNichols' third pitch beyond the left center wall – but amidst the Roadrunners' celebratory scrum, umpires ruled Jensen missed home plate upon appeal by FIU's staff, cutting one from the Roadrunners' total for a 1-0 lead after the first frame.
Although senior starter Marena Estell used just four pitches to put the Panthers away in the first, the second inning wasn't hardly as smooth. Following a full count leadoff walk, a single and a hit batter to load the bases, the Panthers scattered five additional hits to register seven runs before Estell could deliver the final strikeout to halt the run.
With McNichols holding UTSA from adding to their total, FIU tacked on an RBI single in the third and an RBI double in the fourth to grow their advantage to 9-1. Giving up only a single in the top of the fifth, McNichols (6-1) secured the early-exit win to sway the series for FIU and deal the Roadrunners their ninth consecutive loss.
Estell (2-7) took the loss, exiting the game following the second. Junior Kenzi Schultz took over in the circle, allowing two runs on four hits in two innings of relief.
With the opening-frame single and a third-inning double, Kat Ibarra went 2-for-3 to lead UTSA and scored her 22nd run of the year.
The series finale between the Roadrunners and Panthers is scheduled for a 12:00 p.m. CDT first pitch on Sunday at FIU Softball Stadium. Following the completion of the FIU series, UTSA is slated to open a four-game homestand next week as midweek hosts to Houston Christian, followed by a three-game Conference USA weekend series with Western Kentucky.
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