PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO – The FIU softball team were defeated in a pair of games on Saturday as it dropped a 5-1 decision in the opener before falling by an 18-1 count in five innings in the nightcap at the Puerto Vallarta Challenge on Saturday evening.
 
The setbacks move the Panthers' overall record to 6-4 on the season – while FIU finished the Puerto Vallarta Challenge 2-3 overall.
 
BYU opened up an early 3-0 edge on a solo homer to left center by Hailey Morrow in the top of the first and with a couple of runs via an RBI fielder's choice and a FIU error.
 
The Panthers (6-4) scored their lone run in the fifth when Kally Meredith crossed on a miscue by BYU after reaching on a double.
 
The Cougars extended the lead to 5-1 in the sixth with a pair of runs that came across on bases loaded walks.
 
The nightcap saw Boise score in each of the five innings, including six in the top of the first.  The Broncos added a pair in the second, a single run in the third, four in the fourth and five in the fifth to seal the win.
 
Meredith drove in the Panthers' run in the second on a double to left that scored Sammy Zelenka.
 
NOTABLE
Junior pitcher Kennedy Byrd recorded all three outs in the top of the fifth inning against BYU on just three pitches.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action on Thursday, Feb. 19 with a 6 p.m. clash at Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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