BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB's Olivia Valbak singled to left with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to score Bella Wiggins with the decisive run as the FIU softball team fell by a 4-3 margin in extra innings on Friday night in the series opener at Mary Bowers Field.
 
The Panthers (15-16, 2-5 CUSA) were held scoreless and trailed 1-0 through four innings as the Blazers plated the game's lone run to that point on an infield single by Valbak.
 
FIU took its lone lead with back-to-back runs in the fifth and sixth frames.  Sophomore Brooke McCann crossed on a wild pitch in the fifth to tie the game at 1-1 before Abigail Brown put the Panthers ahead 2-1 with a sacrifice fly on a foul ball to deep right in the sixth.
 
UAB (13-17, 3-4 CUSA) tied the game in the bottom of the sixth on a two-out, run-scoring single by Lindsey Smith.
 
FIU reclaimed the lead in the seventh when freshman Kaleena Downing scored when senior Frankie Izard reached on a throwing error, making the score 3-2.
 
Wiggins singled in the seventh to score Hannah Miles, who led off the frame with a triple, to push the game to extra innings.
 
The Panthers best chance to take control in extra innings came in the top of the ninth, which saw FIU load the bases with no outs, but fail to come away with a run.
 
FIU junior Sydney Birling went eight innings and allowed 10 hits and three runs before leaving without a decision.  Freshman Brooke McNichols (5-1) took the loss after allowing one run and two hits over 0.2 innings of relief.
 
Caitlin Russell (4-0) earned the win for UAB in relief after limiting the Panthers to one hit over one inning.
 
Izard and junior Alexis Ross each finished with a pair of hits for the Panthers.  FIU left 10 runners on base in the loss.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers continue the weekend series with the Blazers with the middle contest of the three-game set on Saturday, March 25 beginning at 2 p.m. ET.
 
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.
 
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