MTSU\u00a0softball\u00a0(21-30, 7-20\u00a0CUSA)\u00a0dropped\u00a0its final series to Florida International\u00a0University\u00a0(34-17, 16-11 CUSA)\u00a0splitting\u00a0the first two games before dropping game\u00a0three in a run-rule\u00a0loss\u00a0on senior day.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Games\u00a0one and two\u00a0went\u00a0nine\u00a0innings, both\u00a0high-scoring thrillers.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Game 1\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Blue Raiders found themselves behind early through the entire weekend, starting on Thursday. The Panthers started the second inning with\u00a0back-to-back\u00a0hits to put\u00a0shortstop Zamya McBurrows and right fielder\u00a0Kendall Catherwood\u00a0in scoring position.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Both runners scored on sacrifice hits to take a 2-0 lead.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Offensively,\u00a0Middle Tennessee\u00a0matched FIU with left fielder Macie Harter leading the way. Harter, a bright spot in the leadoff spot,\u00a0homered\u00a0in the\u00a0third inning. Senior Lexi Medlock followed up with a\u00a0home run\u00a0of her own in the fourth to tie the\u00a0ball\u00a0game.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The long ball was a common sight for both\u00a0teams\u00a0in the\u00a0series. FIU\u2019s Kennedy Byrd launched\u00a0three home runs all to left-center field with her first coming in game one to take the lead\u00a0in the top of the fifth inning.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The game\u00a0finished\u00a0regulation tied after MTSU took the lead back in the bottom of the fifth, before the Panthers\u00a0laid down a bunt to score the tying run\u00a0at 4-4.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Middle Tennessee\u2019s pitcher Braelyn Hall completed the entire nine-inning affair,\u00a0throwing 152 pitches,\u00a0allowing\u00a010 hits and five runs.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Florida International won the game off a single scoring hit by\u00a0third baseman Paige Miller. Pitcher\u00a0J\u2019dah\u00a0Girigorie\u00a0sat down the side in the bottom of the ninth\u00a0to clinch the victory. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Game 2\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Game two went nine innings also, with the teams\u00a0combining\u00a0for\u00a013 runs and\u00a023 hits. FIU started strong once again, scoring five runs over the first three innings.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
MTSU tied the game with five straight runs in the fourth inning,\u00a0carried by a Lucie McDonald two\u2013\u00a0run home\u00a0run.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
After the early FIU\u00a0scoring\u00a0surge,\u00a0head coach Jeff Breeden turned to senior Tori Coffman to hold down the fort. Coffman pitched six innings, giving up\u00a0one\u00a0run\u00a0in the\u00a0sixth inning.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Washburn, Tennessee native got\u00a0behind\u00a0multiple counts early but battled back to keep the Panthers at bay.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Another Harter home\u00a0run sent the game to extra innings,\u00a0where\u00a0eventually\u00a0the Blue Raiders found themselves in striking position.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
In the bottom of the ninth with Harter on third, shortstop Jana Want on second, FIU\u00a0intentionally\u00a0walked Ansley Blevins\u00a0to load the bases.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Senior Onika Spencer, who had two\u00a0singles,\u00a0stepped up to the plate and laced a ball to left field to score Harter for the victory. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Game 3\u00a0<\/p>\n
The\u00a0series-deciding\u00a0rubber match\u00a0was unlike any of the other games.\u00a0Florida International jumped on Coffman early, scoring seven runs in\u00a03\u00a02\/3\u00a0innings.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Panthers did not slow down after MTSU brought in Hall scoring eight runs in the sixth running to complete the game in only six\u00a0innings.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Girigorie\u00a0came in after the first inning and pitched\u00a0the lights\u00a0out.\u00a0The junior\u00a0allowed\u00a0two hits while striking out six batters, completing\u00a0a\u00a0strong weekend.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Florida International earned the\u00a0sixth seed\u00a0in the Conference USA tournament after New Mexico State won\u00a0on Saturday. The Panthers and Aggies finished tied at 16-11 in CUSA\u00a0play\u00a0with New Mexico State holding the series victory.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Blue Raiders finished the year at 21-30 overall and 7-20 in CUSA.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
To contact the Sports editor, email\u00a0[email\u00a0protected]<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow Sidelines on Facebook at\u00a0Facebook.com\/MTSUSidelines<\/a>, on X\u00a0@mtsusidelines<\/a>\u00a0and Instagram\u00a0@mtsusidelines<\/a>. Sign up for our weekly newsletter\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n