FORT MYERS — The FIU softball team continued to roll on Tuesday, emphatically capping a pair of non-conference road wins over Saint Francis and FGCU with 12 unanswered runs in the nightcap at the FGCU Softball Complex.
With the victories, the Panthers (17-7) have tied the 2022 team with 10 straight wins, which is the longest streak in the program since the 2017 team won 17 in a row.
On top of that, FIU has matched the 2014, 2017 and 2019 teams for the program's best 24-game start since the 2010 squad started 19-5.
SAINT FRANCIS
Brooke McNichols turned in another dominant outing, while the back half of the lineup had a big game to lead FIU to a 7-1 victory in the day's opener.
The win also helped the Panthers improve to 3-0 against Saint Francis this year, finishing off a season sweep.
McNichols (W, 6-1) went the distance in the circle, registering a career-best five strikeouts along with three hits, one run and one walk.
After allowing a one-out double in the first, McNichols retired the next 11 batters she faced until Saint Francis produced its lone run on a two-out double to right in the fifth.
By the time Saint Francis (7-11) scored that run, however, FIU had already plated the game's first seven runs.
The first two came after Collier Peaden laid down a perfect bunt and used her speed to beat out a single in the third. An errant throw into right field on the play scored Peaden and
Kaleena Downing, who walked to lead off the inning.
FIU broke the game open with four runs in the fourth.
Bailey Grossenbacher doubled, advanced to third on a wild pitch to open the frame and scored in the next at bat when she beat out a throw from the shortstop on a high chopper from
Janelle Martinez.
After advancing to second on a groundout, Martinez scored on a single up the middle from Downing. Back-to-back infield singles then loaded the bases for Paige Miller, who delivered a sacrifice fly to left.
Kendall Catherwood followed with a two-run double down the right field line for a 6-0 lead.
Peaden, the team's nine-hole hitter, added a two-out, RBI single in the top half of the fifth, which scored Grossenbacher after she led off the frame with a walk.
Peaden finished 3-for-3 with two runs and an RBI, while Grossenbacher went 2-for-3 with two runs, one walk, a double and a stolen base. Kally Meredith finished 2-for-4 from the leadoff spot, as well.
Peaden, Downing, Martinez, Catherwood and Miller provided the team's five RBIs.
FIU's 5-9 hitters finished 6-for-14 with seven runs and three RBIs.
FGCU
FIU exploded for a seven-run fifth-inning on the way to 12 unanswered runs over the final three frames in a 12-3 win over FGCU.
The Panthers loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth on a pair of singles and a walk, which set up a bases loaded walk on five pitches from Miller.
After an FGCU (8-18) pitching change, Brooke McCann lined a two-run single through the right side, which tied the game at three.
Jensen Luke and Catherwood followed with RBI singles to center.
Three batters later, Catherwood scored on a wild pitch, and Isabella Perez delivered an infield single in the hole between short and third base for a 7-3 advantage.
The final five runs came in powerful fashion as Byrd sent a 2-2 pitch over the wall in center for a three-run home run in the sixth, and Grossenbacher added a two-run blast on the first pitch she saw down the right field line in the seventh.
After allowing three runs (two earned) in the second inning, Byrd (W, 6-5) settled down for a six-inning outing that included eight hits, three walks and a pair of strikeouts. Kruger allowed one hit but faced the minimum in a scoreless seventh.
Meredith led the Panthers in hits, finishing 3-for-4 with two runs, a walk and a stolen base out of the leadoff spot. McCann (2-for-4, two RBIs), Luke (2-for-3, one RBI) and Perez (2-for-3, one RBI, one walk) also had multi-hit performances. Byrd led a trio of players with multiple RBIs.
UP NEXT
FIU will be back in action this weekend with a three-game series against Middle Tennessee at Felsberg Field. The first game is slated for Friday at 6 p.m.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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