University of North Texas Athletics
FIU defeats Mean Green In Conference Opener
4/10/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
MIAMI, Fla. (4/10/04)- The FIU softball team defeated North Texas, 2-0 and 7-2, on Saturday afternoon in the Mean Green’s Sun Belt Conference opener at University Park.
The Golden Panthers improved to 20-23 and 2-0 in conference play, while the Mean Green stands at 15-40 overall and 0-2 in the Sun Belt after losing its fourth straight game.
Pitcher Katy Maxey held FIU scoreless for five innings in the first game before giving up two runs in the sixth inning. Jennifer Powell hit a solo homer to put the Golden Flashes on the board, 1-0, and Brittany Witherow followed with an RBI double, scoring the second run.
The Mean Green posted eight hits, compared to FIU’s nine, but was unable to get a runner home. In the third inning, Monica Garcia and Christen Jonse both got on base with singles. Kelei Walker singled and Garcia was tagged out at the plate, ending the inning. In the sixth, Maxey was left stranded on third base after getting on base with a single, advancing to second on a passed base and getting to third on a sacrifice bunt.
In the second game, North Texas scored two runs in the fourth inning to come within one run of FIU, 3-2. After Walker drew four balls, Stephanie Cranmer and Heather Bostic both singled to load the bases. Brittiny Chapman and Garcia were hit by pitches, one right after the other, scoring two runs.
After scoring three runs in the third, FIU extended its lead with three more runs in the fifth. Cindy Turek posted her second RBI single of the game to give FIU a 6-3 advantage. Jacque Vetters homered in the sixth, posting her third hit of the game, to seal the 7-2 win for the Golden Panthers.
Juniors Stephanie Cranmer and Mandy Hacker posted multi-hit games for North Texas. Cranmer went 2-for-3 in the second game with a run scored, while Hacker went 2-for-3 in the opening game of the doubleheader. Freshman Susan Waters, Chapman and Walker posted a hit in each of the two games.
North Texas returns to action on Sunday, April 11 with two more games against FIU. The first pitch is at noon.
