MIAMI, Fla. – The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi softball team opened the Mark Montgomery era with flashes of opportunity but couldn't overcome a pair of midgame rallies, falling 6–2 to FIU in the season opener Thursday at Baptist Health Stadium.
The Islanders (0-1) struck first and put runners on in multiple innings, but FIU (1-0) used consecutive three-run innings to seize control. A&M-Corpus Christi finished with four hits but stranded key baserunners late while FIU capitalized on timely extra-base hits to pull away.
"Overall we saw some good things, but we had a couple of self inflicted wounds," said Montgomery. "We have to eliminate those to become the team we are capable of becoming. We played hard and fought courageously but there is more in our tank."
Both teams settled in quickly as the defenses carried the first three innings. Islanders starter
Kendra Winfrey worked around an error in the first and kept FIU off the board, dueling with FIU's starter J'dah Girigorie early.
A&M-Corpus Christi broke through in the fourth with its first sustained rally of the season.
Erynne Castillo sparked the inning with a single, and
Skylar Heger followed with another base hit to put two aboard with one out. After a fielder's choice loaded the bases,
Karisa Lopez drew a walk to force in Castillo, giving the Islanders a 1–0 lead.
FIU answered immediately in the bottom half. A double and a triple highlighted a three-run inning as the Panthers capitalized on an error and two extra-base hits to take a 3–1 lead, shifting momentum after the Islanders had controlled much of the early tempo.
The Islanders looked to respond in the fifth but were retired in order, and FIU extended its lead in the bottom half with another trio of runs.
Still, the Islanders kept creating chances. In the sixth,
Mimi Thornton turned on a pitch and sent it over the right-field fence for A&M-Corpus Christi's first home run of the season, trimming the deficit to 6–2 and giving the dugout a spark.
The Islanders made one more push in the seventh when Lopez opened with a walk and
CJ Castilla singled to put two on with no outs. However, FIU induced a fielder's choice and recorded two consecutive outs to end the game, stranding the runners and sealing the Panthers' win.
Thornton led the Islanders at the plate, going 1-for-3 with a solo home run and an RBI. Castillo finished 1-for-3 with a run scored, while Heger and Castilla each added a hit. Lopez drove in a run and reached base twice via walks.
On Deck:
Friday, Feb. 6
8 a.m. CT – A&M-Corpus Christi vs. Lehigh
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1 p.m. CT – A&M-Corpus Christi at FIU
Live Stats
ESPN+
Saturday, Feb. 7
8 a.m. CT – A&M-Corpus Christi vs. Stony Brook
Live Stats
10:30 a.m. CT – A&M-Corpus Christi vs. Louisville
Live Stats
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