MIAMI – The FIU softball team never led until the bottom of the sixth when Makayla Navarro scored  from second on a Jacksonville State fielding error, helping lift the Panthers to a come-from-behind 7-6 win on Sunday afternoon in the series finale at Felsberg Field.
 
The Panthers, who trailed 5-0 after one and a half innings, rallied with three runs over the final three frames.  Freshman Kally Meredith hit a sharp grounder to second with one out in the bottom of the sixth that was misplayed by JSU's Kenzie Nicholson, allowing Navarro to cross with the go-ahead score.
 
Ashton Lansdell added what proved to be an important second run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 7-5, after the Gamecocks' Lindsey Richardson launched a solo homer to lead off the top of the seventh to get within 7-6.
 
Jacksonville State jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first.  After the first two hitters were retired the Gamecocks strung together back-to-back walks and followed with three consecutive RBI singles.
 
Bailey Grossenbacher got the Panthers on the board in the bottom of the first with a sacrifice fly that scored Kally Meredith to make the score 3-1.
 
The Gamecocks added two more runs in the second to stretch the margin to 5-1.  Linley Tubbs tabbed a run-scoring single and Lindsey Richardson plated another on a sacrifice fly.
 
The Panthers added two more runs via the sacrifice fly in the bottom of the second to get within 5-3.  Ella Whitney singled and Isabella Perez doubled to open the frame before both scored on deep flies by Navarro and Casey Goguts.
 
FIU added another run in the bottom of the third on a throwing error by Jax State catcher Makalyn Kyser on an attempted double steal – allowing Lansdell to score and cut the deficit to 5-4.
 
Whitney kept the pressure on for the Panthers in the bottom of the fifth with a two-out RBI single to left that scored Grossenbacher and knotted the score at 5-5.
 
Freshman Jewelie Vanderkous (4-6) notched the win in relief for the Panthers with 5.2 innings that saw her limit the Gamecocks to one run and seven hits.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers (17-26, 5-13 CUSA) will host Sam Houston State on Friday, April 26 in the opening game of the final home series of the season.  First pitch is scheduled 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.
 
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