Senior Meghan Cunningham |
POWAY, Calif. – Florida International posted a single run in the first inning and three more in the second inning, and never looked back on the way to a 5-1 victory over the Sacramento State softball team Saturday morning in the second day of the Campbell/Cartier Classic. The Hornets, who are now 1-2 in the three-day, five-game tournament, return to action later today to face Northwestern (3:30 p.m.). With the loss, Sacramento State, which has now allowed a combined 21 runs and 35 hits in its last three games, dropped to 4-7. Florida International improved to 7-7 with the victory.
All but one FIU starter recorded at least one hit, led by Kelly Nicosia, Jennifer Owens and Marleah Stapf, who each notched two hits.
The Golden Panthers opened the scoring in the first after Owens'' RBI-double scored Nicosia. Florida International posted three more runs in the second, highlighted by a two-run double off the bat of Laura Hanstein. FIU scored one more run in the fourth after a passed ball plated Stephanie Wolter.
Sacramento State, which was held to just six hits in the game, scored its only run in the seventh on an RBI-single by Cathy Coupar scoring Mary Villalpando. Both Coupar and Jillian Bivert finished the game with a pair of hits as Bivert is now leading the team with a .378 batting average. Meghan Cunningham had her team-best six-game hitting streak come to a close after going 0-for-2 with a walk.
Junior Gina Steenburgen (0-2) picked up the loss, allowing five runs (three earned) and 11 hits in seven innings. Leah Barnes (1-2) got the win in relief, throwing the final four innings, allowing one run and three hits. Sacramento State committed a season-worst five errors in the contest and has now combined for 12 errors in the last five games.
In Friday evening''s game against New Mexico, the Lobos pounded out 12 runs and 17 hits off four different Hornet pitchers on the way to a 12-7 victory. Brooke Chaffee led all players with four hits and four RBIs as six different Lobos notched at least two hits. New Mexico scored six runs in the second and two more in each of the fourth, fifth and seventh innings.
Sacramento State notched a season-high 12 hits, led by Amy Hillel (3-for-4, double), Erin Coyne (2-for-3, double, three RBIs), Bivert (2-for-5, double, two runs, RBI), Amber Dragomir (2-for-3, two runs) and Coupar (2-for-5, two runs). Bivert (1-4) picked up the loss as the junior allowed four runs and three hits in 1.1 innings of work.
After this afternoon''s game against Northwestern, Sacramento State wraps up tournament play tomorrow (Sunday, Feb. 17) against Loyola Marymount at 2:30 p.m.
