MIAMI — A pair of dominant pitching performances helped lead the FIU softball team (11-7) to shutout victories over Eastern Illinois (6-11) and Bradley (5-11) on the first day of the FIU Classic at Felsberg Field on Friday.

With the victories, the Panthers improved to 11-7 overall and pushed their winning streak to four.

EASTERN ILLINOIS
Kennedy Byrd delivered a shutout in the circle, while Paige Miller went 2-for-2 with two runs, two RBIs and two stolen bases as FIU produced a 6-0 victory.

Outside of Miller, Isabella Perez picked up a pair of hits and scored a run, while four others tallied one hit apiece.

Offensively, FIU took advantage of some sloppy play from Eastern Illinois. 

Kally Meredith and Collier Peaden had back-to-back singles to open the home half of the first, and Meredith later scored the game's first run on a passed ball.

FIU added two more in the second on an RBI single from Miller, who later came around to score on an error.

The Panthers doubled their lead in the sixth as Miller delivered another RBI single, while the other two runs came around on an error for a 6-0 lead.

Byrd improved to 4-5 in the circle, allowing just five hits and three walks while striking out three over seven innings. It was the second complete game shutout of the season for the JUCO transfer from Louisburg.

BRADLEY
In the nightcap, Brooke McNichols took her turn in delivering a masterful outing in the circle, allowing only three hits and two walks with one strikeout over seven frames. She improved to 4-1 this season.

In the 7-0 victory, Brooke McCann (2-for-4, one double, three RBIs), Miller (3-for-4, one run, one RBI) and Kendall Catherwood (2-for-3, one run, one RBI) combined to hit 7-for-11 as the Panthers produced all their runs in the second and fourth combined.

After a pair of runs scored on a throwing error to open the game's scoring, Miller tacked on a run-scoring single in a second-inning rally. Meredith, who reached on the error that scored the first two runs, then came across the plate on an RBI single from McCann.

McCann finished her big offensive performance with a two-run double in the fourth. Catherwood followed by sending Jianna Simonet, who came in to run for McCann, home on a single up the middle.

UP NEXT
The Panthers (11-7) will host Toledo and Saint Francis at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., respectively, on Saturday for day two of three in the FIU Classic. 

SOCIAL MEDIA
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