MIAMI - Junior pitcher
Sydney Birling posted her first complete-game shutout as a Panther to lead the FIU softball team to a 1-0 victory over Louisiana Tech in the second game of a three-game conference series on Saturday afternoon at Felsberg Field.
The Panthers (15-14, 2-3 C-USA) scored the only run that Birling would need off a Louisiana Tech error in the bottom of the third – which scored sophomore
Brooke McCann, who had reached earlier via a single.
Birling (3-4) limited the Lady Techsters to five hits and no runs over the full seven innings. She walked two.
Brooke Melnychuk (3-4) took the loss for Louisiana Tech after allowing five hits and one unearned run over six innings. She struck out two and walked none.
FIU freshman
Ella Whitney entered the game riding a program record consecutive hit streak that spanned eight at bats after she went a perfect 4-for-4 in back-to-back games at Charlotte (3/11) and vs. Louisiana Tech (3/17).
The eight consecutive hits shattered previous the FIU program record of six consecutive at bats with a hit, which had been accomplished five times previously by four different players – most recently in 2005 by Tabitha Embry and Brook Ruiz.
Freshman
Kaleena Downing led the Panthers in the victory with a pair of hits. Whitney finished 1-for-3 in the win with a single.
UP NEXT
The Panthers hit the road next weekend to battle UAB in a three-game conference series beginning on Friday, March 24.
TICKETS
For more information on FIU Softball season and individual tickets, including student ticketing, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit the
FIU Athletics Online Ticket Office.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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(@FIUSoftball), Twitter (
@FIUSoftball), and Facebook (
Facebook.com/FIUSoftball) for all the latest FIU Softball news.
