Blue Raiders Fall to FIU 3-0

MIAMI, Fla. - Middle Tennessee softball's pitchers walked in two Florida International runs, in the fourth inning, and the Blue Raider could never recover in the 3-0 loss to the Golden Panthers Sunday at University Park. The loss spoiled the Blue Raiders chance to tie for second with FIU in the Sun Belt race.

The Blue Raiders drop to 19-37-1 and 6-6 in the Sun Belt Conference. Florida International improves to 25-25 and 8-4 in the Sun Belt. Middle Tennessee is still in third place in the Sun Belt, but its possession is precarious at best as the club hosts No. 12 Louisiana-Lafayette on May 6-7 to close out the regular season.

After tossing three scoreless innings, starting pitcher Laura Moore got her self into a real jam when she loaded the bases with a single and two walks in the bottom of the fourth inning. Moore handed Florida International its first run of the game when she gave up a base on balls to Samantha Card to score Tracey Deleon.

After giving up the first FIU run, thanks to the walk, Moore was replaced by Samantha Floyd. Ashley Falk hit an RBI single for the Golden Panther's second run of the inning which scored Jennifer Powell. Floyd also walked in a run in the fourth inning.

The Blue Raiders had just too many missed opportunities. Twice Middle Tennessee had runners on third base and couldn't push the runner across. Middle Tennessee also stranded seven runners on the base path. In total, Blue Raider pitchers walked six batters in the game.

Moore takes the loss in the game and falls to 9-15 on the season. She went 3.1 innings allowing three runs on three hits, but also had the four damaging walks. Floyd finished out the game on the mound for the Blue Raiders allowing four hits and no runs

Junior shortstop Shelby Stiner was 2-for-4 in the game and the only Blue Raider to have multiple hits. She now has 57 hits for the season, which gives her sole possession of eighth place in the Blue Raider record books. Stiner is also hitting .352 for the season, ranking her second in the Sun Belt, and eighth all-time in career batting average.

Middle Tennessee returns home for its final Sun Belt home series on Saturday and Sunday when the Blue Raiders host No. 12 Louisiana-Lafayette. Saturday's doubleheader begins at 2 p.m. at Blue Raider Field. Sunday's single game, which is also Senior Day, begins at 12 p.m.

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