MIAMI --- The FIU softball team came back from a two-run deficit to tie the game in the fifth inning and ultimately went back-and-forth with Western Kentucky over 10 innings in Sunday afternoon's series finale before finishing in a 4-4 tie.
 
With the outcome, which is the first tie in FIU softball history, the Panthers (29-19-1, 11-12-1) sit in seventh place in the CUSA standings, just behind New Mexico State and Sam Houston, who are both 12-12.
 
The Panthers have a three-game set with league-leading Liberty (41-10, 20-3) next weekend to conclude the regular season as they look to secure one of only six berths in the postseason tournament.
 
Western Kentucky scored one in the third off FIU starter, Jewelie Vanderkous and then added another in the fourth before loading the bases with one out.
 
Kennedy Byrd entered in relief, allowing two inherited runners to score, but retired Annie White to end the frame before retiring the side 1-2-3 in the fifth, six, seventh and eighth innings.
 
Byrd also retired the leadoff batter in the ninth, which gave her a stretch of 14 straight batters retired before a fielding error ended the run. She then stranded a pair of runners in the ninth before allowing a double and a walk to leadoff the 10th. However, a pair of fly outs and a pop out ended the rally.
 
FIU, which tied the game at four apiece in the fifth inning when Janelle Martinez reached on an error to score Byrd, didn't get a chance to bat in the home half of the 10th as the game's time limit of 2 p.m. was reached, resulting in the tie.
 
After Western Kentucky struck for the game's first run in the third, FIU took a 2-1 lead in the bottom half.
 
The first run scored when Kally Meredith reached on an error, plating pinch runner Jianna Simonet, who ran for Isabella Perez following a leadoff single.
 
Paige Miller's single up the middle in the next at bat scored Meredith for the lead.
 
After WKU scored the three runs in the fourth, FIU got one back in the bottom of the fourth when Meredith's perfect bunt between the circle and first base scored Janelle Martinez, who walked to leadoff the inning.
 
Byrd provided the game-tying run in the fifth when she walked, moved to third on a double from Bailey Grossenbacher, and scored on the fielding error during Martinez's at bat.
 
Byrd's final line in the circle included 6.2 innings, two hits and three walks. She threw exactly 100 pitches.
 
Five players scattered FIU's five hits, while four players had one run. Byrd led the team in walks with two.
 
Both teams stranded nine baserunners.
 
UP NEXT
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.