MIAMI — Clutch plays, strong defense and Sammy Zelenka's bat helped the FIU softball team capture a 5-2 come-from-behind win over No. 21 FAU at Felsberg Field on Wednesday.

FAU (32-6), which entered the game ranked 21st in the D1softball poll, saw FIU end their three-game winning streak. They had also won 14 of the past 15 and were coming off a sweep of UTSA, where they outscored their opponent 38-5 in the three-game series.

FIU's win also allowed them to split the season series with the Owls.

After allowing a pair of runs in the first inning, Megan Kruger finished off the complete game victory in the circle with the help of several great defensive plays, including three from Kally Meredith in center.

The first of those plays came when Meredith made a running catch in deep left center with one on and no outs in the first, which would eventually help prevent further damage as FAU scored twice in the frame.
 

Down early, the Panthers responded quickly in the home half of the first. Meredith reached on an error and stole second. Kendall Catherwood singled, and Paige Miller walked to load the bases with no outs.

A passed ball then allowed Meredith to score and trim the deficit in half. In the next at bat, with runners on second and third, Bailey Grossenbacher hit a grounder back to the pitcher. 

Catherwood proceeded to get into a potential pickle between third and home, which panicked FAU's pitcher, Jaden Martinez, who threw to second in an effort to get Miller, who appeared to be heading back to the bag.

That throw, however, proved futile as Catherwood slid home safely and Miller advanced to third.

In the third, a walk from Kennedy Byrd started a two-run rally. Janelle Martinez reached on an error one batter later, and Isabella Perez walked to load the bases, which brough Gabby Sacco in to pitch for FAU.

Sacco was promptly greeted with a two-run, ground-rule double from Zelenka on a 1-2 pitch, which provided the eventual game-winning runs.

A line-drive RBI single to left from Byrd in the fourth provided an insurance run. The play scored Miller, who had singled and stole second with one out.

Down three, FAU threatened to cut into its deficit in the fifth as they put two on with two out. Yani Guzman hit a ground ball between first and second, which was fielded by FIU's first baseman, Martinez, who attempted to beat her to the first base bag. 

Once she realized Guzman was going to beat it out, Martinez adeptly pivoted and threw home to get Destiny John, who had rounded third and attempted to score, for the final out.

In each of the next two innings, Meredith made great defensive plays in center. The first came leading off the sixth with a tough catch in left center, and the other came with one out in the seventh on a ball hit deep into right center, where she skillfully snagged the deep fly ball.

Kruger (W, 7-1) picked up the victory, scattering 12 hits and walking one over seven innings. 

Zelenka's two-run double helped her finish as one of six Panthers with one hit apiece, which also included Meredith, Catherwood, Miller, Byrd and Collier Peaden. 

FIU also produced five walks and five steals. Miller swiped two of those, while Meredith, Grossenbacher and Peaden had the others.

NEXT UP
FIU (26-11) will continue Conference USA play with a road series at Sam Houston, beginning Friday at 7 p.m.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Instagram (@FIUSoftball), X (@FIUSoftball), and Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSoftball) for all the latest FIU softball news.