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Thursday, May 8, 2003
Dubovik's game-winning hit
lifts FIU over MT and advances Golden Panthers in SBC Championship
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Dubovik singled home the game-winning run in the bottom of the
seventh inning Thursday to lead second-seeded Florida International
to a 2-1 victory over No. 3 seed Middle Tennessee in the opening
game of the Sun Belt Conference Softball Tournament at WKU Softball
Field.
The Golden Panthers (36-23) advance to face the winner of
the day's third game between top-seeded Louisiana-Lafayette and
either No. 4 Western Kentucky or No. 5 New Mexico State Friday
at 1:30 p.m. (CDT). The Lady Raiders (32-20) will take on the
loser of the WKU-NMSU match-up at 11 a.m. Friday.
Amber Gill doubled to lead off FIU's final at bat, moving
up a base when Meagan Dontrich reached on a bunt single. After
MT hurler Stayc Preator recorded a strikeout, Dontrich singled
through the left side of the infield to break the 1-1 tie.
Dontrich was the only player for either team to have two hits.
"Amanda's leadoff hit gives us an opportunity to score,
and Meagan laid down a crucial bunt," said FIU head coach
Kim Gwydir. "That gave the top of our order three chances
to get the winning run in, which I'll take any time."
The Golden Panthers put three runners on in the first two
innings, but didn't take a 1-0 lead until the third. Stephanie
Wolter led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice
bunt from Dubovik. After an infield out, Cindy Turek doubled
into the gap in left-center field to plate the first
run of the contest.
MT tied the game in the top of the sixth, putting runners
on second and third with back-to-back hits by Kip Phillips and
Cortney Mitchell to knock FIU starter Amanda Nealer out of the
game. With Dani DeCamino batting, Nicole Barrett's wild pitch
allowed Phillips to score and tie the game.
"Nicole Barrett's performance was critical for us,"
Gwydir said. "Amanda pitched well, but it was crucial to
have a freshman come in with runners on second and third and
one out and only give up one run."
Barrett improved to 5-6 with 1.2 scoreless innings, fanning
three. Nealer allowed an earned run on four hits in 5.1 innings,
walking one while striking out three.
Preator (22-9) threw her 19th complete game of the season,
scattering seven hits and a walk with five strikeouts in 6.1
innings.
"For Stayc to hold down the team that led the Sun Belt
in hitting and put one run on the board for her is very disappointing,"
Lady Raider head coach Cindy Connelley. "Any time you have
a young ballclub every day is a new day, though. We need to regroup
and refocus, and come out and hit the ball tomorrow." |