PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO – Sophomore Kendall Catherwood registered a two-out single in the top of the seventh to score the eventual game-winning run in a 4-2 victory for the FIU softball team over Boise State in its opening game at the Puerto Vallarta Challenge in Mexico on Thursday morning.
 
Catherwood drove home sophomore Paige Miller with a hard infield single that Boise State shortstop Hollie Farmer was able to dive and corral but had not chance for a play at first as Miller crossed to make the score 3-2.
 
Kennedy Byrd followed with a bloop single down the left field line that scored Catherwood for some insurance to account for the final 4-2 margin.
 
Byrd also tossed a complete game in the circle as she limited Boise State to two runs and eight hits over seven frames while improving to a perfect 3-0 on the season.
 
Catherwood extended her hitting streak to start the season and her FIU career to six games with her game-winning RBI single.
 
The Panthers (5-1) finished the contest with 13 hits  - its highest total in any game this season and the third straight game with 10 or more hits.
 
A total of four Panthers posted two hits in the victory, including Kallie Meredith, Sammy Zelenka, Isabella Perez and Miller.  Four different players drove in a run for FIU – which improved to 5-1 with the victory – its best start since opening 6-1 in 2014.
 
Boise State (4-2) opened an early 1-0 edge on a two-out RBI single to right by Megan Lake, which scored Sophia Knight, who led off the frame with a single.
 
Perez knotted the score at 1-1 in the top of the third with a double down the left field line to plate Sammy Zelenka after she opened the inning with an infield single.
 
The Broncos reclaimed a 2-1 edge in the bottom of the third on a single by Hollie Farmer to right that plated Mykenzie Hannah.
 
Meredith tied it up at 2-2 for the Panthers with an infield single that pushed across Lindsay Burroughs in the top of the fifth.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers continue the action at the Puerto Vallarta Challenge with a pair of games on Friday, Feb. 14 beginning at 11 a.m. with a showdown against Illinois State before immediately following with a 2:30 p.m. clash against North Dakota State.
 
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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