Saturday, April 13, 2002

IU starts the weekend series taking one of two over New Mexico State, 9-1 and 2-3, at University Park.

In the first game, the Golden Panthers (32-25, 4-2 Sun Belt) needed only five innings to defeat the Aggies (18-28, 1-1), 9-1. Vanessa Preston (10-8) pitched a one hitter, striking out six, to earn the victory.

Stephanie Wolter, Lesley Gillen, Jennifer Owens and Lindsay Tippings all had two hits, as FIU outhit the Aggies, 12-1.

Gillen got things started with a double to left field, scoring Wolter and Kelly Nicosia, who both reached on singles.

New Mexico State got on the board as Heather Nobbe, stole second and scored as Sabrina Smith overthrew second base.

The Golden Panthers scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth off of Aggie starter Anita Knight (6-20).

Nicole Dubovik and Crystal Boyer walked to start the inning and Tippings singled. Wolter nailed a single to right to score Dubovik. Marleah Stapf pinch hit for Nicosia and then was abruptly hit by the pitch, scoring Melissa Fleitas, who pinch ran for Boyer.

Gillen hit a sacrifice fly to score Tippings, followed by an Owens single to plate Wolter that ended the game, 9-1, due to the eight-run rule after five innings.

Game two saw New Mexico State pitcher Knight, get her revenge on FIU, as she held the Golden Panthers to two runs on six hits.

The Aggies got all their runs in the top of the fourth off starter Kendra Laminack (8-6). NMSU third baseman Mel Briggs hit a three-run homer over the left field fence, as they took a 3-0 lead.

FIU would climb back in the fourth and fifth innings, as Kristen Perry smacked a home run of her own to start the inning, her second on the year.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, FIU would get within one, as Gillen singled in Fleitas. Owens almost got the lead for the Golden Panthers, as NMSU's Tiffany Ruiz made a diving catch in center field to end the threat.

Amanda Nealer pitched the final three innings, allowing no runs on one hit to keep FIU in the game.

FIU will play another doubleheader against New Mexico State tomorrow at 1:00pm to end the four-game series at University Park.