Face No. 15 Louisville on Tuesday
MIAMI - Middle Tennessee scored first but allowed two solo homeruns in the bottom of the sixth inning as they concluded a three-game series against Florida International with a 3-1 loss at University Park on Saturday afternoon.
Middle Tennessee fell 1-0 and 5-1 to the Golden Panthers in the opening doubleheader on Friday evening.
Vander Lugt (6-14) allowed two earned runs on six hits in the complete game, six-inning effort.
Barrett (12-9) gave up one run on six hits and struck out nine batters in the winning performance.
Middle Tennessee put two runners on in the second after Caitlin McLure walked and Brittney Banania reached off interference by Golden Panther catcher Jessica Landau, but Tobie Joy struck out to end the inning.
Florida International's Jenny Welch reached second base after a walk and stolen base, but it was the combination of McLure, Martha Davis and Natalie Ysais that kept the home team scoreless by catching Welch at home plate after an outfield single by Seldi Soberon.
The Blue Raiders took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning. Kelsey Dortch lined a 2-1 pitch straight up the middle and advanced to second on a McLure sacrifice bunt to start things off, bringing up Davis.
The senior nailed a two-out pitch into short left field and Dortch looked to have been out at home after a great throw by FIU outfielder Soberon, but the ball was dropped by the catcher Landau, allowing Dortch cross the plate.
Dortch went 2-for-4 with a run scored for Middle Tennessee.
Florida International evened the game at one run apiece in the bottom of the third. The home team put two runners in scoring position after Desiree Fink beat out an infield single to third base and Kim Rodriguez reached on an error by Blue Raider shortstop Banania. Fink scored on a one-out groundout to the shortstop by Landau.
In the fourth, Middle Tennessee put two runners on with two outs following back-to-back Banania and Kandra Singleton singles to left field, but Banania was thrown out at home plate by FIU centerfielder Rodriguez to end the inning.
Lauren Spiers and Welch broke the deadlock in the bottom of the sixth with back-to-back solo homeruns to left field.
The Blue Raiders return to action on the road against No. 15 Louisville on Tuesday. Opening pitch for the single game at Ulmer Stadium is set for 5 p.m.
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