Box Score 

MIAMI – Down by one in the seventh, the FIU (2-3) softball team scrapped together a 2-1 win over Jacksonville (1-4) in eight innings on Sunday, Feb. 8 at University Park.

Freshman Jennifer Gniadek (1-2) pitched the last 5.1 innings in relief of starter Kasey Barrett to get the win.  Gniadek struck out 10 and walked none after Barrett allowed the Dolphins only run of the game. 

“She just absolutely dominated from the moment she came in game,” said FIU head coach Beth McClendon of Gniadek.  “I feel like she was the reason why we got this done today.  That was one of the best pitching performances we’ve had since I’ve been at FIU.”

Senior Katie Bell and sophomore Iriseldis Soberon each went 2-for-4 and both played a vital part in FIU’s late inning comeback.

The Golden Panthers had chances to score throughout the game and ended with nine hits and 13 runners left on base.

Jacksonville grabbed an early 1-0 lead on a Katie Kelly single to score Kayla Ouellet.    With Kelly at second, Amanda Schmidt hit the ball to center fielder Kim Rodriguez.  Kelly tried to score, but was thrown out at home by Rodriguez.

With FIU batting in the bottom of the sixth, Rodriguez reached on an error and advanced to second base.  With two outs, junior Lauren Spiers singled up the middle and advanced to second on the throw to home by the center fielder Ouellet, Rodriguez was held at third.  After freshman Ashley McClain was hit by a pitch, pinch hitter Jenny Welch struck out looking on a full count with the bases loaded and two outs.

In the bottom of the seventh with Soberon on second base and two outs, Bell hit an RBI double on the first pitch from Jacksonville starter Sarah Sigrest (1-2) to tie the game at 1-1.  Spiers found herself in the same situation as Welch did in the sixth with the bases loaded and a full count, but the junior first baseman popped up to the catcher to end the inning.

After Gniadek shut down the Dolphins in the top of the eighth, FIU had runners at first and second with one out in their half of the eighth.  Soberon hit a ball that bounced off of third base and dribbled into the outfield.  Alfonso, who was at second, was thrown out at home by the left fielder.  Freshman Lana Lazar was then walked intentionally and brought up senior Desiree Fink with the bases loaded again for FIU.  She walked on four pitches to send McClain home from third to win the game.

“No one likes to win that way, but on a day when we are not swinging well, we have to find a way and we did,” said McClendon.  “That says a lot about the heart and fight of the team.  We’ll take it however we can get it.”

The Golden Panthers will host their second tournament of the season on Feb. 13-15.  FIU’s first game is against Michigan State at 6 p.m. on Feb. 13.