FIU’s softball team earned a 5-4 win over Middle Tennessee in nine innings on Apr. 30, marking its fourth consecutive victory in Conference USA play.
The game was decided when Paige Miller delivered a two-out hit that drove in Kennedy Byrd for the go-ahead run in the ninth inning. J’dah Girigorie then retired all three batters she faced in the bottom half to secure the win for FIU.
Girigorie pitched effectively out of relief, giving up only one earned run and three hits across 4.2 innings while striking out nine on just 59 pitches. Kennedy Byrd contributed offensively with two hits and two runs batted in, including her twelfth home run of the season. The Panthers collected a total of twelve hits and drew four walks as a team.
After both teams went scoreless through the first inning, Isabella Perez put FIU ahead with an RBI groundout, followed by Byrd’s sacrifice fly to make it 2-0 after two innings. Middle Tennessee answered with solo home runs in the third and fourth to tie it at two apiece after four frames. Byrd homered again to briefly restore FIU’s lead before Middle Tennessee took their first lead with a pair of runs in their half of the fifth inning.
Kaleena Downing tied things up for FIU with a squeeze bunt that scored Zamya McBurrows, sending the contest into extra innings where Miller’s clutch single proved decisive. Girigorie finished strong by striking out three batters in the eighth and retiring MTSU without incident in the ninth.
FIU will continue its series against Middle Tennessee on Friday, May 1 at 5 p.m.
