April 8, 2001
MIAMI - Leah Barnes earned a win and a save in relief Sunday to lead Florida International to 2-1 and 1-0 Sun Belt Conference softball wins over Western Kentucky University at University Park.
The Golden Panthers (33-13, 4-0 Sun Belt) swept the four-game weekend series from the Hilltoppers (16-22, 1-7 SBC), and have won seven of eight all-time meetings between the two schools.
Barnes (8-0) won her eighth consecutive decision in game two with 2.0 scoreless innings in relief of Vanessa Preston, allowing a hit with two strikeouts. Preston gave up two hits and walk while fanning three in 5.0 innings for the Golden Panthers.
Shannon Carey led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a home run to left-center field, breaking up Allison Silver's bid for a shutout and giving FIU the series sweep. It was her team-leading seventh homer of the year. Silver -- who had retired the previous six batters and not allowed a runner to pass second base all afternoon -- gave up six hits and a walk with two strikeouts in 6.0-plus innings to fall to 6-8.
WKU had the second game's first chance to score with runners on second and third and one out in the top of the sixth inning, but Barnes struck out Jessie Richardson and Riley Garcia to get out of the jam. Melissa Gomes led off the frame with a single up the middle, then Kristalyn Smith reached on a sacrifice bunt when first baseman Carey pulled Tonia Somoano off the bag. A passed ball advanced the two runners before Barnes bailed out the Golden Panthers.
Gomes -- who had at least one base hit in the final three games of the series -- was 2-for-3 in each end of the doubleheader. She accounted for two of the Hilltoppers' three hits in the finale.
The Golden Panthers picked up the first run of the opening contest in the bottom of the second inning without the benefit of a hit. After Carey struck out leading off, Monica Pardo and Kristen Perry both walked. Stephanie Wolter laid down a bunt, and when catcher Amy Tudor hit her in the back on the throw to first, Pardo scored from third. FIU added an insurance run in its final at bat when Jennifer Owens reached on an error leading off, moved to third base after a wild pitch and scored on Perry's two-out infield single.
The Hilltoppers responded with a run in the top of the seventh -- their first in 38 innings in league action -- but could not tie the game, leaving a runner at third. Veronica Giddens led off with a walk and was pinch-run for by Angie Head. Angela Dunhour laid down a sacrifice bunt that FIU relief pitcher Barnes threw away, putting WKU runners on second and third. Head came home on Shanon Searle's sacrifice fly to center field, cutting the Topper deficit in half, a play in which Dunhour advanced to third base. But, Barnes struck out both pinch hitter Cassie Palmer and Garcia to preserve the win.
Mila Nelson (14-7) allowed two hits and a pair of walks in 5.0 innings for her second win in as many days, and fourth in two seasons over the Hilltoppers. Barnes entered in the sixth and gave up an unearned run on a walk and a hit to earn her second save of the year. Giddens (8-6) -- who held the Golden Panthers to just three hits in giving up a pair of unearned runs -- fell for the second time in the four-game series.
WKU returns to action with a 2 p.m. (CDT) doubleheader at Indiana State Tuesday, continuing a season-long, 10-game road trip.
-- WKU --
