MIAMI --- Kennedy Byrd's game-tying RBI single in the sixth inning wasn't enough as the FIU softball team dropped a heartbreaker to Western Kentucky, 3-1, on Saturday night at Felsberg Field.
 
After Byrd tied the game at one apiece in the sixth, a hit by pitch and a double put two runners in scoring position with one out for WKU leading off the seventh.
 
Annie White then laid down a bunt, which scored the first run after the flip home was late, and a failed attempt to get White on the basepaths allowed the second run to score.
 
FIU's sixth-inning rally started when Kendall Catherwood singled to second leading off the frame, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Paige Miller and scored on Byrd's single down the left field line.
 
The Panthers ultimately placed two on with two out in the sixth, but Natalie Burns was retired after an incredible 13-pitch at bat in which she fouled off seven pitches with two strikes.
 
Megan Kruger (L, 9-3), who allowed a run in the third inning, tossed a complete game for the Panthers, allowing eight hits and three walks while striking out one.
 
Lindsey Burroughs and Jianna Simonet each picked up a start for FIU as a 1-2 combo at the top of the lineup on senior day.
 
The pair singled to lead off the home half of the first and were sacrificed into scoring position, but FIU failed to push either of them across.
 
With the loss, FIU (29-19, 11-12) slipped into a tie for sixth place in the Conference USA standings with New Mexico State (24-24, 11-12).
 
The tightly contested conference now has WKU (27-19, 12-10) in fourth place and Sam Houston (12-11) in fifth.
 
Middle Tennessee (10-13) and UTEP (9-14) are also not far behind in eighth and ninth place, respectively.
 
All those teams are chasing a top six seed and a subsequent berth in the CUSA Championship with four games left in the regular season.
 
UP NEXT
Sunday's series finale against WKU is slated for 11 a.m.

After this weekend, FIU concludes the regular season with a road series at Liberty May 2-4.
 
The Conference USA Championship will be May 7-10 in Bowling Green, Ky.

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.