MIAMI – Louisiana Tech softball dropped its series opener to 6-5 Florida International on Friday night at FIU Softball Stadium. The loss moves LA Tech to 24-17 (10-6 CUSA).
It was a back-and-forth affair that saw 13 combined hits, with four of those being home runs. The Bulldogs collected six hits with two home runs, while FIU totaled seven hits and two home runs.
Nicole Hammoude finished with one home run and two RBI, while
Reagan Marchant finished with one home run and one RBI.
Karolyn Glover picked up two RBI on a single, while
Alexis Gilio finished with a double and a single.
Claire Raley finished with one hit in the loss.
Allie Floyd made her 20
th start of the season and went the distance. She moves to 17-9 after taking the loss in the circle. Floyd allowed six runs (five earned) on seven hits. She finished with five strikeouts and no walks.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Panthers jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the bottom of the first as they used three hits and two errors to score four runs. Kally Meredith reached base on a fielding error and advanced to second on a throwing error to start the inning. Meredith was able to come around to score on a double to make it 1-0 FIU. A single would place two Panthers on the base paths and a home run would clear the bases, making it 4-0 FIU.
The Bulldogs cut the deficit to two in the top of the second inning as Hammoude and Raley drew back-to-back walks to start the frame. Gilio reached on a fielder's choice and replaced Hammoude on the base paths.
Alannah Rogers drew a walk and loaded the bases for Glover who was able to plate Raley and Gilio on single to left to make it 4-2 FIU.
LA Tech was able to tie the game at 4-4 in the top of the third as Hammoude hit a two-run blast to dead center that scored Marchant. Marchant reached on a walk in the prior at bat.
FIU answered back in the bottom of the frame with a solo shot to make it 5-4 FIU.
The Bulldogs tied the game in the top of the fifth as Marchant blasted a solo shot to left to make it 5-5, her 11
th home run of the season.
With the game tied at 5-5, Gilio doubled to start the sixth and advanced to third on a sac bunt. The Bulldogs were unable to plate Gilio after back-to-back infield pop ups.
The Panthers ended up in the same situation as LA Tech with a runner on third and one as they were able to capitalize on a single up the middle that scored the deciding run.
NOTABLES
The Bulldogs move to 9-14 all-time against FIU after the loss.
Allie Floyd recorded her 20
th start of the season in the circle while making her 30
th appearance.
Allie Floyd pitched her 12
th complete game of the season.
Reagan Marchant hit her 11
th home run of the season.
Nicole Hammoude hit her sixth home run of the season.
Nicole Hammoude recorded her 11
th multi-RBI game of the season.
Karolyn Glover logged her third multi-RBI game of the season.
Alexis Gilio recorded her 10
th multi-hit game of the season after collecting two hits.
NOTABLES
The Bulldogs and Panthers will be back in action tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. for the second game of this weekend's three game series.
