Blue Raider Softball Swept by FIU

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee softball (8-37, 1-15) suffered a sweep by visiting Florida International (32-23, 10-6), 2-0, 5-3, Sunday in the final home games of the season at Blue Raider Field.

In the first game, junior hurler Jennifer Dorais got the start to lead off the double header. Florida International jumped out early by capitalizing on a Blue Raider error. FIU's Brook Ruiz led off the second inning with a double and was replaced by pinch runner Holly Kitchen, who advanced to third on a ground out by Brittany Witherow.

With one out, Dorais gave up a walk to Marleah Stapf and the Blue Raiders looked to be in serious trouble with Golden Panthers on first and third. Middle Tennessee appeared to have things go their way when Lindsay Tippings flied out to right fielder Jennifer Grybash who alertly threw the ball home as Kitchen attempted to go score. It seemed Blue Raider catcher Leah Grothause would pick off Kitchen in a run down, but she overthrew the ball to third base and Kitchen took advantage of the error and trotted home. The run was unearned. FIU tacked on a second run in the top of the fifth inning.

Middle Tennessee's only real threat in the first game came in the bottom of the fifth inning. Dorais led off with a single and Liz Davis followed with a bunt single to give the Blue Raiders runners at first and second. After Melissa Weiland popped up to the short stop, Christi Benton put down a sacrifice bunt to push the runners to second and third. Kayla Sparks ended the Blue Raider threat when she struck out to end the inning.

Dorais falls to 2-11 on the season.

The second game started off promising for the Blue Raiders. Middle Tennessee scored the first runs for the first time in the series when the team put together three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Grybash led off the fourth with a single and advanced to second on an error by the FIU short stop. She moved to third off a single by Grothause and scored when Trish White hit a sacrifice fly to center field and Grothause moved to second.

FIU picked up the second out of the inning when Dorais hit a fielder's choice and Grothause was out on the play. A single by Liz Davis placed runners on second and third and Dorais scored off an RBI single by Brandi Boehner. Davis moved to third on the Boehner single and Boehner advanced to second on the FIU throw in from the outfield. Davis scored the third run of the inning off a passed ball by FIU catcher Jennifer Powell.

Trish Whit started the second game and tossed six scoreless innings and it looked like she might just get her first win of the season, but again looks can be deceiving. With the Blue Raiders leading 3-0, White gave up a lead off homerun to Stapf to cut the lead to two 3-1. White forced a ground out and a line out back to her and Middle Tennessee seemed it was in business with two outs, but Cassie Parker hit a single and then White gave up a homerun to Powell to tie the game and force extra innings.

Florida International took the game in the top of the ninth inning. Again with two outs, White gave up a double to Powell, which led to a two run shot by Tabitha Embry to give the Panthers a 5-3 lead and the eventual win.

White falls to 0-10 on the season. In the game, she gave up three homeruns, allowed 11 hits and struck out seven.

Middle Tennessee ends the regular season in Lafayette, Louisiana when the team faces No. 14 Louisiana-Lafayette on May 7-8. First pitch on Saturday is set for 1 p.m.

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