Miami, Fla. (March 11, 2006)- In the first of two semifinals at the Florida International Tournament, the host Golden Panthers defeated Manhattan, 16-1, tonight at University Park. The Lady Jaspers finish up the tournament tomorrow morning at 10:30, playing the loser of the Harvard-Rhode Island matchup.
FIU jumped on the Lady Jaspers early, scoring six in the top of the first to chase starter Liz Pennino. The Golden Panthers would great reliever Kristin Gelsleichter with two runs in the second and blew the game open with seven more in the third.
Manhattan got on the board in the bottom of the third on an RBI groundout by Deirdre Langan, scoring Kerry Cook, who has led off the inning with a walk. Liz Strein moved her to second with a single, and the two runners advanced on a groundout by Stefanie Gozdziewski, setting up Langan.
Strein continued to swing a hot bat, going 2-2 on the day.