EL PASO, Texas – Senior Madison Lewis and sophomore Ashton Lansdell each posted three RBI and Lansdell and freshman Ella Whitney homered as the FIU softball team held off a late push by UTEP for a 10-8 win on Saturday afternoon to clinch a win in the final series of the regular season.
 
The Panthers (23-26, 9-14 CUSA) jumped out to an early 3-0 in the top of the first on the strength of the home runs by Lansdell and Whitney.  Lansdell sent her blast to right center which also scored Isabella Perez, to make the score 2-0.  Whitney added a solo shot to left center two batters later to extend the lead to 3-0.
 
UTEP (11-33, 2-21 CUSA) answered in the bottom of the first with a two-run homer by Caitlyn Brockway, to get the Miners to within 3-2.
 
The Miners would go on to knot the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the second when Lexi Morales crossed on a bases loaded walk – after reaching earlier on a walk.
 
FIU would then seemingly break open the game with a six-run fourth that made the score 9-3.  Lewis sparked the rally with a bases-loaded double that cleared the bases.
 
The Miners rallied with five runs in the sixth to get to within 10-8.  Three straight players recorded run-scoring singles with two outs during the rally for UTEP.
 
The Panthers matched their season-high in runs with 10 – and a total of four players scored multiple runs for FIU in the win.
 
Lansdell and Lewis each drove in three runs, while Abigail Brown also notched two RBI.  Whitney finished with three hits, including the homer, while Lansdell and Makayla Navarro each tabbed a pair of hits.
 
Freshman Megan Kruger (8-6) notched the victory for the Panthers after tossing four innings and allowing three runs and four hits.  She walked three and fanned a pair.
 
Mackenzee Collins (0-7) took the loss after giving up five runs and three hits over 1.2 innings of relief.  She issued three free passes and struck out two.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers conclude the three-game set and the regular season at UTEP on Sunday, May 7 at 2 p.m. ET.
 
Sunday's game at UTEP will be broadcast on CUSA.TV.
       
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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