MIAMI - The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders (22-22, 11-6 SBC) continued their climb to the summit of the Sun Belt Conference standings as they defeated the Florida International Golden Panthers (17-28, 5-9 SBC) in both games of a doubleheader at University Park in Miami, Fla. on Saturday.
The Blue Raiders came into the game second in the conference with nine wins and needing just two wins to reach the .500 mark overall on the season. They faced off against a FIU team that was coming off last weekend's dramatic series sweep of pre-season conference favorite and nationally ranked Louisiana-Monroe.
In the first game of the day, Shelby Stiner belted a three-run home run in the top of the 3rd inning to put the game out of reach as Middle Tennessee allowed just six hits in route to a 5-0 victory.
Lindsey Vander Lugt (15-14) picked up the complete game win for the Blue Raiders, allowing no runs and scattering six hits, while striking out five and walking one in seven innings of action.
Kerri Houck (6-14) had a tough outing for the Golden Panthers, giving up all five runs on nine hits, while striking out three and walking one in the complete game effort.
The Blue Raiders took the an early 1-0 lead in the first inning off Corrie Abel's sixth stolen base of the season. Whitney Darlington was thrown out at second base and Abel stole home on the attempted double steal.
MT added another run in the second inning through Justine Cerda's fourth double of the year before Stiner's game sealing home run the next inning.
Martha Davis was 3-for-4, improving her average to .336 on the season. Abel finished the day with two stolen bases and one run scored.
In the second game of the series, the Blue Raiders overcame a poor hitting performance with a dramatic five run seventh inning to win the game.
Samantha Floyd (6-6) picked up win for the Blue Raiders, giving up three runs on four hits over 2.2 innings. Amy Candioto also pitched for MT, giving up no runs and just one hit, while hurling two strikeouts in 4.1 innings of nearly immaculate action.
Penny Eastman (11-11) gave up five runs on six hits, while striking out three and walking two in the complete game loss for FIU.
Florida Interantional jumped out to an early 3-0 lead and held onto it for six innings until the Blue Raider battery sprang into action with five runs in the top of the seventh inning.
The 2007 season's clutch player, Melissa Weiland, led off the inning with a single before Shelby Stiner picked up her 12th RBI with a single to the shortstop. After picking up another run through a bases-loaded walk by Ashley Cline, Corrie Abel doubled to the gap in left field, putting the Blue Raiders up 5-3.
Stiner went 2-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI to lead the Blue Raiders.
Middle Tennessee looks for the sweep of Florida International at Univeristy Park on Sunday at Noon.
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