March 6, 2011 CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Quinnipiac University softball team splits two games at the University of South Florida's Under Armour Invitational on Saturday, March 5. The Bobcats (6-6) lost, 8-0, to Central Michigan in a five-inning contest, and beat Florida International University, 6-1.

Quinnipiac third baseman Alex Alba (Sylmar, Calif.) and first baseman Joelle Jacobsen (Flemington, N.J.) each contributed a hit against Central Michigan in the Bobcats first game of the day. Freshman pitcher Emily O'Keefe (Southington, Conn.) took the loss and pitched four innings for Quinnipiac, while classmate Katie Alfiere (Beacon Falls, Conn.) pitched 1/3 innings.

Central Michigan scored its first four runs in the bottom of the first as junior infielder Molly Coldren hit a grand slam, driving in Amanda Klosterman, Kari Seddon and Macy Merchant. The Chippewas posted a run in the second inning and another two runs in the bottom of the third, taking a 7-0 lead. In the fifth inning, Central Michigan's Jamey Braxton picked up the final run of the game on a Quinnipiac error.

Quinnipiac picked up its sixth win of the season as six Bobcats each scored a run against Florida International. In addition, Christy Cabrera (Reno, Nev.) picked up two RBI. Junior right-handed pitcher Heather Schwartzburg (Mission Viejo, Calif.) recorded a win as she allowed only one error and one run in seven innings for Quinnipiac.

The Bobcats took a 3-0 lead in the second inning as Jordan Paolucci (Lake Mary, Fla.) scored on a wild pitch and Cabrera singled to drive in Jacobsen and Bridget Figmic (Stratford, Conn.).

Florida International's Erika Arcuri led off the top of the sixth with a double. After she advanced to third on a wild pitch, Ashley McClain singled to left center, driving in Arcuri, and putting the Panthers on the board for the first time in the game.

Quinnipiac responded with four hits and three runs in the bottom of the sixth, taking a 6-1 lead into the seventh inning. Ashley Heiberger (Sioux Falls, S.D.) led off with a double to center field. Figmic drove in Heiberger for the Bobcats' first run of the inning on a single through left side. Later in the inning, Julia Sini (Elgin, Tex.) drove in Kim Brzezinski (Tinley Park, Ill.) on a single and O'Keefe scored the Bobcats last run.

The Bobcats play their final game of the Invitational on Sunday, March 6 against the University of Maine at 9:30 a.m.