FIU Rallies Past Memphis 7-6

Saturday, February 12

Miami, Fla.

12 PM

University of Memphis

2-2

Florida International

1-2

Memphis

FIU

Lelani Bernardino threw out a FIU base runner attempting to score

Feb 12, 2011 | Softball

Box Score

Feb. 12, 2011

Box Score

MIAMI, Fla. - A four-run sixth inning was not enough as FIU topped the University of Memphis softball team 7-6 on Saturday at the FIU Combat Classic. Memphis falls to 2-2 on the season while FIU collects win number one to move to 1-2.

The Tigers had comeback to take a 6-4 lead after FIU scored four runs in the bottom of the first. The U of M scored runs in the third and fourth inning and then took the lead with four runs in the sixth.

Memphis outfielders made three assists on putouts with two coming at the plate. Leftfielder Lelani Bernardino had two of the three assists and finished with three assists on the day from the outfield.

Senior southpaw Janelle Valle (0-1) pitched five and a third innings in relief for the Tigers, allowing three runs on nine hits. Valle struck out one and walked one. Ashley McClain (1-0) picked up the win for the Panthers as she pitched a scoreless top of the seventh.

The Panthers started a three-run rally in the bottom of the seventh with back-to-back hits and a Memphis error that helped FIU get within one at 6-5. Senior Lauren Carley replaced Valle and FIU continued the pressure as a walk loaded the bases. After Rachel Slowik hit a single up the middle to knot the game at 6-6, Patty Zavala stood in the batter's box with a chance to win the game. A wild-pitch allowed the game-winning run to score.

Freshman pitcher Ellen Roberts made her collegiate debut for the U of M and FIU used two hits, two walks and a hit batter to take an early 4-0 lead. With two outs in the bottom of the first Valle took over in the circle and right fielder Ijiah Hargrove threw out a runner at the plate to end the inning.

Memphis tallied a run in the third and fourth innings, but a four-run sixth gave the Tigers a 6-5 lead. Three walks and base hits by Alyssa Palmieri and Kamri Chester highlighted the top half of the sixth and the Panthers committed two fielding errors to spark the four-run inning rally for Memphis. Freshman Ashleigh King recorded her first career hit and later scored. Palmieri and Chester accounted for two of the four runs and freshman Amber Lindahl scored as a pinch-runner.

The Tigers will close out the FIU Combat Classic on Sunday against Kentucky with first pitch scheduled for 11 a.m. ET.

Game Notes: Lelani Bernardino has recorded assists in two straight games after throwing out a runner at second against Ohio State and a runner out at home and second against FIU...Bernardino now has 14 outfield assists in her career...Keanah Prestridge recorded her second career pick-off in the bottom of the third inning, throwing to first base and nabbing Jenny Welch...Freshmen Ellen Roberts, Ashleigh King and Amber Lindahl made their collegiate debut.