Friday, March 14, 2003

FIU tops No. 20 Texas A&M, gets by Syracuse at Nike Classic

• Nike Blue & Gold Classic homepage

IU came back from a 2-0 deficit to defeat No. 20 Texas A&M, 3-2, then plated two runs in extra innings to beat Syracuse, 3-1, on the opening day of the Nike Blue & Gold Classic at University Park.

In the opener against the Aggies (18-10), Golden Panthers starting pitcher Amanda Nealer (10-6) allowed a pair of runs on three hits in the first inning before settling in. FIU finally cracked the scoreboard in the fifth inning on a Jennifer Owens’ RBI single and then tied the game one inning later on an Amber Gill ground out.

The Golden Panthers won the game in the seventh inning, thanks in part to a pair of Texas A&M errors, followed by a Cindy Turek sacrifice fly.

Against the Orangewomen (4-10), FIU broke a 1-1 tie in the eighth inning on two runs without benefit of a base hit. Carmen Lopez scored on a throwing error, then one out later, Gill scored on a sacrifice fly by Stephanie Wolter.

Kendra Laminack was the FIU starting pitcher in the nightcap. She pitched the first five innings, not allowing a hit until the first batter of the sixth inning. Nicole Barrett (2-6) picked up the pitching win with three innings of no-hit relief.

Owens was the hitting star on the day for the Golden Panthers, going 4-for-7 over the two games.

In other Nike Classic action, the No. 7-ranked California defeated FAU, 10-2, and Syracuse, 8-0, while No. 24 Massachusetts took two, beating Texas A&M, 4-2, and FAU, 2-1.

Saturday's Nike Blue & Gold Classic Schedule
California vs. Massachusetts (9:00 a.m.)
Florida International vs. California (11:00 a.m.)
Florida International vs. Massachusetts (1:00 p.m.)
Florida Atlantic vs. Texas A&M (3:00 p.m.)
Florida Atlantic vs. Syracuse (5:00 p.m.)
Syracuse vs. Texas A&M (7:00 p.m.)
All games played at FIU University Park.