February 28, 2003
FURMAN SOFTBALL EARNS SPLIT AT FIU'S GOLDEN PANTHER INVITATIONAL
MIAMI, Florida -- Junior LaKerah Barr pounded out five hits, scored two runs and swiped two bases to lead the Furman Lady Paladin softball team to a split of its first two games of the FIU Golden Panther Invitational Friday in Miami, Fla.
The Lady Paladins opened tournament play Friday afternoon with an 11-5 victory over Florida A&M (6-11).
Furman jumped on FAMU with a five-run first inning. Karen Myers laced a one out double to right field and Jessica Matthews followed with an infield single. Senior Kate Morrison then singled up the middle to score Myers. After three Furman baserunners scored on two Florida A&M errors, Jessica Griffin singled down the right field line to score Ali McNulty and give the Lady Paladins a 5-0 advantage. Barr's singled loaded the bases for Furman, but FAMU starter Monique Mattingly induced a fly out to end the inning.
After Florida A&M scored two in the bottom of the first, the Lady Paladins scored single runs in the second and third innings. Starting pitcher Meagen Johnson drilled a one out double over the centerfielder's head to score Matthews for Furman's second inning run, while Myers tripled plated Barr in the top half of the third.
FAMU chased Johnson from the game in the bottom of the third when Mattingly singled through the right side to drive in two runs. Freshman Tabitha Dease enterd the game and got Jerika Mobley to line out to retire the side.
With Furman leading 8-5 in the top of the sixth, Barr put the game out of reach. The centerfielder smacked a double to the center field wall scoring Joni Lockridge and Carolina Evans. Furman closed out the scoring when Kelli Leachman drew a bases loaded walk in the top of the seventh that scored Matthews for the final 11-5 margin.
Dease picked up her first career win going 4.1 innings while allowing only one run on four hits. Barr collected three hits and drove in two runs, while Matthews went 2-for-2 with three runs scored.
Mattingly (0-4) took the loss for FAMU. Elisha Scott went 2-for-3 with two RBI to lead Florida A&M.
In game two FIU (8-14) overcame a 1-0 Furman (3-4) lead to claim a 5-1 victory. Golden Panther starter Kendra Laminack (2-5), after allowing a first inning run, limited the Lady Paladins to no runs on only two hits in her next five innings.
Trailing 1-0, FIU tied the game on a Stephanie Wolter double scoring Meagan Dontrich. The Golden Panthers took the lead when Wolter scored from second on a wild pitch by Lady Paladin starter Rachel Henley.
FIU concluded the evening's scoring in the top of the fifth with three straight RBI singles by Jennifer Owens, Marleah Stapf and Jennifer Powell.
Henley (1-2) took the loss for Furman, while Laminack beat the Lady Paladins for the second time in three days.
Barr once again paced Furman with a 2-for-2 outing and one run scored. Six FIU hitters collected a hit in the victory.
Furman returns to action on Saturday morning when it faced the Tennessee Lady Vols at 10:00, followed by meeting with the Buffalo Bulls beginning thirty minutes after the first game.