MOBILE, Ala. - Florida International scored twice in the seventh inning Saturday, tacking on another run in extra frames to earn a 4-3 Sun Belt Conference softball victory over the University of South Alabama at Jaguar Field.
It was the only contest of the night after heavy rains forced the originally scheduled start back over four hours. The Jags and Golden Panthers will wrap up the three-game league series with a doubleheader Sunday that is slated to begin at 11 a.m.
USA (18-21, 5-9 Sun Belt) led 3-1 going in the Golden Panthers' last at bat in regulation, but FIU (31-15, 12-5 SBC) rallied to tie the game when Jenny Welch and pinch-hitter Jackie Tetlow hit back-to-back home runs to lead off the seventh. The Golden Panthers would load the bases before Beth Pilgrim - who had re-entered the contest at the beginning of the inning - induced a flyout to centerfield to end the threat.
FIU plated the winning run in the top of the eighth when Seldi Soberon doubled to centerfield in front of a diving Britany Campbell to drive in pinch-runner Alexandra Casals from second base.
FIU jumped out to an early lead in the first inning when Ashley McClain homered down the right-field line, but the Jags answered in the bottom half of the inning when lead-off hitter Brittany Fowler doubled down the left-field line and was followed by Campbell, who homered down the right-field line - the first of her collegiate career - to give the Jags a 2-1 advantage.
Fowler and Campbell combined for five of USA's seven hits, with Fowler going 3-for-4 and Campbell 2-for-3 with a walk.
The Jaguars tacked on another run in the second when Meghan Collins reached on an error and advanced to second on the throw. Kamee Vessey then laid down a sacrifice bunt to put Collins in scoring position. The next batter, Kelsey Volz, singled up the middle plating Collins.
Volz ended the game 2-for-3 at the plate.
Jennifer Gniadek, who was 2-for-4 at the plate, came on in relief of Kasey Barrett after Volz reached on a lead-off single to start USA's half of the seventh. She improved to 13-5 with two scoreless innings of work. Barrett went six innings in the circle, allowing seven hits and three runs while striking out seven.
Pilgrim threw a total of 6.1 innings, giving up four runs on nine hits while striking out seven. Katy Neal relieved Pilgrim with one out in the top of the fifth, going 1.2 innings and surrendering only one hit.
"Tonight saw two very good teams playing hard, it was one of those games that either team could win. Unfortunately we came out of it on the short end of the stick," said Jag head coach Becky Clark. "I was proud of our kids, they fought real hard and were aggressive - they worked the entire time to try and win this ballgame.
"FIU stepped up and did what they had to do to come back, you have to tip your cap to them. We have to come back tomorrow and go after them just as hard and compete again."
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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