Box Score 

MIAMI – After holding a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning, the FIU softball team gave up three runs over the next three innings to lose to Fordham 3-2 on Sunday, Feb. 22.

The loss gives the Golden Panthers a 10-7 record after finishing 2-3 at the FAIU “Strike Out Cancer” Tournament.

Freshman Jennifer Gniadek (5-3) got the start for FIU and went six innings giving up all three runs and striking out five.

Freshman Jenny Welch was one of just four FIU batters to get a hit with a two-RBI single in the fourth inning.  The hit scored senior’s Katie Bell and Kim Rodriguez who both singled to start out the inning.

Fordham (4-5) scored in the top of the fifth with a two out single to make the score 2-1.  In the sixth, the Rams scored again as Erin Fisher singled before stealing second and advancing to third on a wild pitch.  Mary Beth Puccio hit the ball up the middle of the infield to tie the game at two.

In the top of the seventh with Meghan Shager on first, junior Kasey Barrett came in to relieve Gniadek.  Catcher Jessica Landau threw down to second base in attempt to catch Shager stealing, but no one covered the bag and she advanced to third on the error.  Lindsey Bright hit a single to give the Rams the lead for the first time all day, 3-2.

FIU threatened in the bottom of the seventh inning when freshman Lana Lazar singled on a bunt to put the tying run on base.  With two outs and Lazar at second base, senior Desiree Fink reached on an error by the third baseman to bring up Bell with runners at first and third with two outs.  The senior popped out to the shortstop to end the game.

Jen Mineau pitched a complete game to get the win for the Rams.

“Our offense just didn’t show up for the majority of the weekend,” FIU head coach Beth McClendon.  That’s something we tend to rely on and now we are getting the pitching to keep us in ball games so our offense needs pick it up.”

FIU will open conference play on Saturday, Feb. 28 as they host WKU at University Park.  Game time for the first game of a doubleheader is at 1 p.m.