Golden Panthers gain split at rain-delayed Seminole Invitational

Saturday, March 8, 2003

Golden Panthers gain split at rain-delayed Seminole Invitational

photo by Geoff Anderson

FIU sophomore left-hander Amanda Nealer picked up her eighth win of the season with a 4-0, one-hitter against the University of Utah in the opening round of the Seminole Invitationalin Tallahassee.

fter a day of rain and the delayed start of this weekend's Seminole Invitational, the FIU softball team (11-17) split a pair of games at the Tallahassee tournament, winning on a one-hitter, 4-0, over Utah and then falling to No. 14 Michigan, 5-2.

Sophomore left-hander Amanda Nealer (8-6) handcuffed the Utes (6-10), not allowing a hit until a Masie Ota single with two outs in the sixth inning. Nealer notched her second complete game of the season with nine strikeouts and three walks.

The Golden Panthers got the only run they would need in the fifth with the help of a Utah error. Lindsay Tippings reached safely on a center field fielding error, and then pinch runner Carmen Lopez scored two batters later on an RBI single by Amber Gill.

FIU put the game away in the seventh inning, scoring three more times on two hits. A Stephanie Wolters' run-scoring triple was the big blow in the frame. Wolters also had a double and scored a run as the Golden Panthers collected six hits in the game.

Jen Pursell (4-5) took the pitching loss for Utah after allowing all four runs (two earned) in a complete-game effort while striking out five and walking two.

The Golden Panthers weren't as lucky in the nightcap against the Wolverines (11-6), who won their fifth-straight game.

UM plated two runs in the first inning and another in the second off FIU losing pitcher Nicole Barrett (1-6) while the Golden Panther offense was limited to just three hits in a game that was delayed twice by rain.

FIU continued pool play last Saturday night with a game against Providence with playoff rounds beginning Sunday morning at 10 a.m.