Home Runs Lift Raiders Over FIU, 5-3

Sunday, April 15

Miami, Fla.

12 PM

Middle Tennessee

28-17, 7-8

FIU

24-23, 6-8

Middle Tennessee

FIU

4/15/2018 3:10:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Box Score Play-by-Play FIU Series Season Stats C-USA Stats

By: Janelle Johnson

MIAMI, Fla. – The Middle Tennessee softball team rallied for a come from behind win over FIU on Sunday afternoon. The Raiders earned their 28^th win of the season in a 5-3 defeat of the Panthers.

MT scored all five runs in a big sixth inning behind home runs from Kristin Uselton and Danielle Munoz.

Cori Jennings earned the complete game win in the circle, her 14^th of the year. She struck out one on the day.

The Raiders improve to 28-17 on the year. The win secures at least a .500 record for the season with 11 games to go on the year. MT also improves to 7-8 in conference play, marking the most wins in C-USA play since entering the conference in 2013.

FIU falls to 24-23, 8-7 following the loss.

To start the game, the Panthers took a lead in the first inning. FIU strung together three hits with the third being a long single down the third base line from Julia Gilbert. The hit scored two runs and gave FIU a 2-0 advantage.

In the second, Munoz hit a double down the third base line. Brooke McClure followed with a walk but the Raiders were unable to move the base runners with a pop up to second instead.

FIU hit two out doubles in both the third and fourth innings. In the third, Morgan Harris was able to pick the runner off second base to end the inning. However, in the fourth inning, the Panthers followed with a single to left field to score a run, taking a 3-0 lead.

MT threatened again in the fifth as Claire Smith leadoff with a double to left field. McClure followed with her second walk of the game. Like in the second, the Raiders were stopped, this time on a pair of strikeouts.

FIU pushed the bases full in the bottom half of the inning on two hits and a walk. Cori Jennings kept the Miami squad off the scoreboard by pitching the Panther batter into a pop up to second to get out of the jam.

Down by three, Uselton put the Raiders back in the game with a two-run home run in the sixth inning. Precious Birdsong was on base with a walk and Uselton's shot over the left field fence made it a 3-2 game. The MT bats continued to batter FIU pitcher, Shannon Saile in the inning.

Munoz evened the score to 3-3 with one swing of the bat a batter later. She slammed her third homer of the season over the left center field fence.

The Raiders kept the rally going in the inning as McClure connected for a single up the middle. Kirstyn Cuccia followed with a walk. The pair went for a double steal and the FIU catcher sailed the ball into the outfield, allowing McClure to score the go-ahead run. Then, into pinch hit, Lexi Cushing sent a single to deep center. Cuccia scored on the play to MT ahead, 5-3.

The Panthers had a pair of base runners in the bottom half of the inning but Jennings and the defense silenced the bats and put the runners down to seal the victory.

Up Next

The Blue Raiders return to Murfreesboro, Tenn. for their next four games. The first is a midweek clash with Belmont on Wednesday, April 18. First pitch is set for 6pm at the Blue Raider Softball Field.