DELAND, Fla. – The FIU softball team scored three runs in the top of the eighth, after wiggling out of a bases-loaded, one-out situation for Bethune-Cookman in the bottom of the seventh, to escape with a 6-3 extra-inning win over the Wildcats in its opening game on Friday at the Stetson Invitational.
 
Sophomore Alexis Ross laced a triple to lead off the eighth and drive home Brianna Hill, who was placed on second to start the frame, for the eventual winning run.  The Panthers would tack on another two runs on a sacrifice fly by Hanna Johanning and when Makayla Garcia scored following a pair of Wildcat fielding errors.
 
The back-and-forth affair almost ended differently in the bottom of the seventh as Bethune-Cookman loaded the bases with one out and the score tied at 3-3.  FIU sophomore Brooklynn Linneman wiggled out of the jam by getting BCU's Jasmeen Rivera to ground into a double play and force extra innings.
 
Linneman (5-1) earned the win for FIU after allowing a pair of hits over two innings of shutout relief.  Kendahl Dunford made the start for the Panthers and went five innings, while allowing three runs and four hits.  She struck out four and walked one in the no-decision.
 
The Panthers benefited from five errors by Bethune-Cookman – two of which led to a pair of unearned runs for FIU in the fourth.  Brittany Phillips drove in a run with an RBI single in the fifth.  Freshman Brooke McCann posted a pair of hits in the win – including a double and run scored.
 
UP NEXT:  The Panthers (11-9) continue play at the Stetson Invitational with a showdown against the host Hatters scheduled for approximately 5 p.m. ET.
 
Friday night's game vs. Stetson will air live on ESPN+ - click here to watch
 
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