MIAMI — Megan Kruger's dominant performance in the circle helped the FIU softball program pick up a split on Saturday in the second day of action in the Panther Invite at Felsberg Field.
After dropping the opener, 4-1, to Iowa (10-3), FIU (8-7) got a trio of multi-hit performances along with a complete game victory from Kruger for an 8-0 win over Lafayette (0-7) in the nightcap.
Iowa
A six-run first inning doomed the Panthers in the opener, while FIU produced all three runs over the first two innings.
As a team, Iowa hit for the cycle in the first inning with a single, a double, a triple and a home run while also adding a walk and a hit by pitch for good measure, which served them a 6-0 lead before FIU came to bat.
In that home half, Kally Meredith led off with a single and advanced around the bases moments later on a muffed throw. Kendall Catherwood then walked and Brooke McCann singled through the left side, and both players advanced on a wild pitch.
Kennedy Byrd helped push across Catherwood with the second run on an RBI groundout.
Singles from Jensen Luke and Paige Miller in the second inning eventually set up a bases loaded walk by McCann, which plated Miller and pulled FIU within three.
After the offensive flurry to open the game from both teams, both teams went scoreless the rest of the way.
Outside of the first inning, Byrd (L, 3-5) turned in a solid performance, allowing seven hits and three walks while striking out five over seven innings. She allowed only three hits and two walks over the final six frames.
Janelle Martinez (2-for-4) led FIU in hits against Iowa, while six others tallied one apiece. Catherwood and McCann drew the team's two walks.
Lafayette
FIU earned the win in the nightcap with a little bit of fortune to end it as Luke's grounder to third with two outs was misplayed, leading to the game-ending run from pinch runner, Lindsey Burroughs, in the 8-0 victory.
Bailey Grossenbacher and Sammy Zelenka singled to start the fifth-inning rally, and an RBI groundout to second from Kaleena Downing plated FIU's seventh run and set up the winning at bat from Luke.
Some patience at the plate led to a pair of walks to open FIU's home half of the first, which eventually plated the game's first two runs on an RBI single from McCann and a sacrifice fly to center from Grossenbacher.
A two-out solo blast in the second from Isabella Perez set up another run-producing inning in the third where an RBI single from Zelenka highlighted a three-run frame and gave FIU a 6-0 lead.
Kruger (W, 2-1) picked up the complete game victory, striking out one while allowing just three hits and a walk over five.
McCann (2-for-3, RBI), Grossenbacher (2-for-2, two runs, RBI) and Zelenka (2-for-3, run, RBI) led FIU offensively, while two others picked up a hit. Meredith and Grossenbacher each swiped a bag, too.
UP NEXT
FIU concludes the Panther Invite on Sunday, Feb. 23 inside Felsberg Field with a 10 a.m. matchup against Lafayette.
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