Blue Raiders Fall to FIU 2-1 in Sun Belt Tourney

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - Three Middle Tennessee errors in the bottom of the third inning proved to be the game clincher as No. 3 seed Florida International (35-25) defeated the Blue Raiders 2-1 in the first round of the Sun Belt Softball Tournament Thursday.

The No. 6 seeded Blue Raiders fell to 8-42 on the season with the loss and move to the consolation bracket. Middle Tennessee will face North Texas Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the Western Kentucky Softball Complex.

Sophomore hurler Trish White turned in yet another stellar performance but again drew the short end of the stick in the win column. White didn't allow an earned run in six innings of work and only gave up one hit as FIU's Marleah Stapf hit a single in the fifth inning.

After sitting down six consecutive batters to start the game, White seemed to be on cruise control. The third inning started with a bang as White recorded a strikeout against Brittany Witherow, but FIU got its first runner on base with the next batter as Stapf reached first on an error. A second error occurred by the Blue Raiders when Dee Joy's attempted bunt placed runners on second and third. Florida International picked up their only runs of the game off the third Middle Tennessee error of the inning, which placed Deomni Murray on first and scored pinch runner Nina Dyer and Joy.

Middle Tennessee avoided its fifth consecutive shutout thanks to a homerun by freshman Brandi Boehner who hit a shot over the left field wall. It was the first homerun for Boehner and the first Blue Raider long ball since April 16. It was also the second homerun by a freshman this season.

White falls to 0-12 on the season with the loss. In the game she allowed just the one hit and struck out two. Senior Jennifer Grybash led the Blue Raiders at the plate going 2-for-3. The Blue Raiders also out hit Florida International as they had six hits in the game.

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