GULF SHORES, Ala. – Florida International had three-run innings in the third and fourth, as HBU fell to the Panthers, 7-0, on the final day of the Sand Dollar Classic.
Shay Orsak and
Victoria Granchelli each had a hit for HBU (0-5), as Orsak went 1-for-4 and Granchelli went 1-for-3.
Shannon O'Connor started in the circle and took the loss, as she allowed five hits, four runs (three earned), and one walk in 2.2 innings.
Laci Belovsky tossed the final 4.1 innings and gave up seven hits, three runs, and one walk while striking out two.
Ashley Leon, Stephanie Texeira, and Aleima Lopez had two hits apiece for FIU (4-2). Texeira and Gabby Spallone each had two RBIs, while Leon scored two runs. Corinne Jenkins started and earned the win in the circle, as she did not allow a hit in 4.0 innings. She walked three and struck out four. Brianna Bartuccio tossed the final 3.0 innings and allowed two hits while striking out one.
FIU drew first blood in the top of the second, as Krystal Garcia led off the inning with a double, then Shelby Graves was hit by a pitch, putting runners at first and second with nobody out. Dominique Grossman flew out to right field, but a Huskies' error resulted in Garcia crossing home, giving FIU a 1-0 lead.
FIU put a three-spot in the top of the third, as the Huskies ran into trouble early in the inning. Back-to-back singles followed by a walk loaded the bases with nobody out. Spallone grounded out, which allowed a run to score and give the Panthers a 2-0 lead. Garcia hit a sacrifice fly to bring in another run, and Graves had an RBI double for the third run of the inning. Belovsky came in to pitch for the Huskies and got a strikeout to end the inning.
The Panthers scored three more runs in the top of the fourth to push their lead to 7-0. The Huskies threatened to get on the board in the bottom half of the inning, as back-to-back one-out walks put a runner in scoring position, but a double play ended the inning.
In the bottom of the fifth, Orsak hit a two-out single, HBU's first hit of the day. V. Granchelli had the second hit for the Huskies, as she smacked a two-out single to left in the bottom of the seventh.
HBU hosts Texas Southern Wednesday, Feb. 11 at 3 pm at Husky Field in the Huskies' home opener.
