TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The FIU softball team rolled past Charleston Southern with a pair of wins in a doubleheader on Saturday at the Florida State Dugout Classic in Tallahassee.
 
The Panthers recorded a 6-1 win in game one before following with a resounding 9-1 victory in the finale, which was halted after six innings.
 
Junior Bailey Grossenbacher led FIU in the opener with two hits and two RBI – including a run-scoring triple to key a two-run second.  She added her second RBI on a single in the sixth that extended the lead to 4-1.
 
Starting pitcher Sydney Birling (2-2) earned the win after limiting the Buccaneers to one run and five hits over 5.1 innings.
 
Game two saw the Panthers' bats dominate as they lit up Charleson Southern pitching for nine runs and seven hits over six innings – which also taking advantage of four defensive miscues by the Buccaneers.
 
FIU (8-9) actually trailed 1-0 after the opening frame before erupting for nine unanswered runs – including a five-run fifth to seal the early win.
 
Collier Peaden and Makayla Navarro each keyed the fifth-inning spurt with a two-run single each – Kally Meredith also drove in a pair of runs for FIU in the win.
 
FIU did not strike out one time at the plate – and drew a total of five walks.
 
Panthers' starting pitcher Jewelie Vanderkous (2-1) picked up the victory after limiting Charleston Southern to three hits and one run over five innings.
 
UP NEXT
FIU head to Boca Raton to battle Florida Atlantic in a single non-conference clash on Wednesday, Feb. 28.  First pitch is slated for 6 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.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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