Clutch Hitting Powers @FIUSoftball to Friday Split of Marshall

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MIAMI (April 14, 2017) -- FIU softball plated five runs in the third inning to put away East-division leading Marshall 8-4 and split the Friday Conference USA doubleheader at Felsberg Field and FIU Softball Stadium. The win gives the Panthers a 33-11 record, 9-5 in C-USA. Marshall drops to 33-6, 15-2 in C-USA. The 33 wins for each team are tied for the league lead. FIU is 15-2 at home this season. "We are trying to get back to playing FIU softball," said FIU Head Coach Gator Rebhan. "The difference for us when we win is not walking hitters when we pitch and then putting the ball in play when we have runners on base. When we don't give free runners, the hits don't hurt us. And when we're hitting, we have to take advantage of runners by not popping out, which we have been doing too much of lately." The lead changed hands every half inning in three-consecutive at bats. FIU got the first run of the day when sophomore catcher Julia Gilbert (Rialto, California) drove a one-out, RBI single up the middle in the second. The Thundering Herd took their lead of the game after an infield bunt for a hit and sacrifice bunt was followed by back-to-back home runs down the left field line for a 3-1 lead. FIU got three hits, two hit batters and an RBI walk to score five runs. Gilbert drove in a run with a sacrifice fly, which was followed by an RBI single to center by senior Sammi Green (Marietta, Georgia). FIU never looked back, as each team added a run in the fourth. FIU senior first baseman Stephanie Texeira (Miami, Florida / Gulliver Prep) homered into the wind for her 10th of the season and program record 42nd of her career for the game's final scoring play in the sixth inning. Relief ...

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