MIAMI – The FIU softball team scored early and often before holding on for a 9-8 victory over Stony Brook in the final game of the Felsberg Invitational on Sunday afternoon.
 
The win improved the Panthers to 4-1 overall on the season and weekend – which saw FIU post a pair of wins over Power Four opponents (Indiana & Iowa State) – en route to their best start to a season since 2019.
 
FIU scored runs in each of the opening three innings before holding off the Seawolves after they posted a seven-run fourth to get within a run.  Junior Brooke McNichols was key as she tossed 3.1 innings of shutout relief while allowing only three hits to earn the victory and improve to 2-1.
 
Senior Collier Peaden was one of five Panthers with multiple hits – finishing with a team-high three along with a pair of RBI.  Kally Meredith, Kendall Catherwood, Janelle Martinez and Paige Miller finished with two hits each.  Miller added two RBI in the victory.
 
The Panthers recorded a total of seven stolen bases by six different players – running their season total to 17 in the opening five games.
 
The top of the order gave the Panthers an early 1-0 lead in the first as Meredith opened the frame with an infield single and followed by stealing second.  Peaden drove her home with a single that hugged the right field line – her third RBI this season.
 
The Panthers added two more in the top of the first with a combination of speed and a critical Stony Brook miscue.  Peaden stole second after her single and following a pair of fly outs, Martinez singled to advance Peaden to third and then swiped second.  Both scored two batters later and after Bailey Grossenbacher walked to load the bases on an error by Stony Brook third baseman Madelyn Stepski, who sailed a throw over first base on a grounder by Isabella Perez, extending the FIU lead to 3-0.
 
The lead went to 5-0 later in the frame on a two-RBI single by Miller through the left side – scoring Perez and Grossenbacher.
 
Stony Brook's Alyssa Costello hit a solo homer to center in the top of the second to put the Seawolves on the board.
 
The Panthers (4-1) added another run in the second on a run-scoring single by Martinez which plated Catherwood, who reached on a single and stole second.
 
Peaden and Catherwood each provided another RBI single in the third and another Stony Brook error led to a third run in the bottom of the third to extend the lead to 9-1.
 
Stony Brook battled back to make the score 9-8 with a seven-run top of the fourth that saw a total of 10 consecutive reach after two outs were recorded and FIU still leading 9-1.  Five different players drove in runs for the Seawolves in the frame.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers venture to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, for the Puerto Vallarta Challenge where it will play a total of five games from Thursday, Feb. 13 through Saturday, Feb. 15 against Boise State, Illinois State, North Dakota State and BYU.
 
FIU opens play on Thursday, Feb. 13 against Boise State at 11 a.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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