MIAMI  — Kennedy Byrd steadied the FIU softball team in the circle and delivered the game-tying hit to lead the Panthers to a 7-4 come-from-behind win over Middle Tennessee on Felsberg Field Sunday.

The victory, which allowed FIU (19-8, 2-1) to clinch the first series of Conference USA play, gives the Panthers wins in 12 of their past 13 games. They will head to Kennesaw State for a series next weekend.

Byrd (W, 8-5), who also picked up a complete game victory in the first game of the series, entered in relief with one out in the third inning with Middle Tennessee leading 3-2 and threatening for more with two on and one out.

The JUCO transfer from Louisburg produced a strikeout and a flyout to end the threat, and a little bit of fortune then spurred a four-run bottom half of the inning for FIU's offense.

Kendall Catherwood, who tied Middle Tennessee's Addy Edgmon for a game-high three hits, stroked a one out single to right to get the rally going in the home half. 

Bailey Grossenbacher followed with a chopper toward the right side of the bag at second, and Catherwood evaded the tag and reached second safely to set up a two-on, one-out situation.

Brooke McCann followed with a line drive single to center to load the bases for Byrd, who smashed a game-tying RBI single to left.

Sammy Zelenka continued the circle in the next at bat, taking a 3-1 pitch at the letters and driving it down the left field line for a 4-3 lead. Two batters later, Kaleena Downing's soft liner into the grass in short left center scored two more runs and pushed FIU's lead to three.
 

Edgmon, who delivered two home runs out of the leadoff spot for Middle Tennessee (9-14, 1-2), pulled the Blue Raiders within two with her second blast of the game leading off the fifth.

After a 1-2-3 sixth, Byrd allowed a single and a hit batter with one out in the seventh, but induced a strikeout and a groundout to end the game.

Catherwood's third hit of the game in the sixth, an RBI single to left, padded FIU's lead entering the final inning.

After Middle Tennessee continued its offensive showcase from Saturday night with two home runs in the first for a 3-0 lead, FIU promptly answered back with two runs in the home half.

Kally Meredith and Paige Miller led off the frame with back-to-back infield singles, and Meredith later scored the first run, beating a throw to home from the first baseman on a fielder's choice grounder by Catherwood.

Grossenbacher then scored Miller in the next at bat on a sacrifice fly to center, which made it 3-2 and eventually set up the sequence in the third with Byrd entering in relief.

Seven different players accounted for FIU's 10 hits in the game, led by Catherwood (3-for-4, two RBIs) and Downing (2-for-2, two RBIs, BB). 

Byrd allowed just two hits, one run and one walk while striking out four of her 4.2 innings of work in relief of Megan Kruger, who picked up the no decision.

Edgmon finished 3-for-4 with two home runs for Middle Tennessee, while her teammate, Jana Want, went 2-for-3 with a run, a walk and a pair of RBIs.

UP NEXT
FIU travels to Kennesaw State for another Conference USA series beginning Friday night at 6 p.m.

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