HUNTSVILLE, TEXAS --- Kennedy Byrd's early home run provided some momentum and a four-run sixth clinched an 8-4 win for the FIU softball team on Saturday in the second game of its weekend series against Sam Houston on the road at the Bearkat Softball Complex.
 
FIU (27-12, 9-5 CUSA) has won three of four with the victory. The team concludes the three-game series at Sam Houston on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
 
After Friday night's tough loss in the series opener, Byrd came up with two outs and Kendall Catherwood on second base in the opening frame, and she responded by sending a 1-1 pitch over the fence in centerfield – just beyond the glove of Sam Houston's leaping centerfielder, Kyla Heine.
 
A two-out fielding error on Sam Houston's part in the second tacked on another run for the Panthers.
 
Sam Houston responded with single runs in the second, fourth and fifth innings to tie it up at three apiece through five.
 
FIU answered back with a four-run rally in the sixth to seize control.
 
Bailey Grossenbacher was hit by a pitch with one out, and two batters later Sammy Zelenka walked to put a pair on with two outs.
 
Janelle Martinez followed with an RBI double to left, and Kally Meredith sent a two-run double to right center for a 6-3 lead.
 
Catherwood walked, and Paige Miller got an infield single to first to load the bases for Byrd, who worked the count full before walking in the final run of the inning.
 
A two-out RBI single from Martinez in the seventh stretched it to an 8-3 lead.
 
Sam Houston (19-21, 7-7 CUSA) chased FIU starter Megan Kruger with a walk and back-to-back doubles in the seventh, but Jewelie Vanderkous entered to retire the Bearkats in order with a lineout, a strike out and a fly out.
 
Four Panthers finished with multi-hit performances, including Meredith (2-for-5, 2B, R, 2 RBIs), Miller (2-for-4), Grossenbacher (2-for-3, 2B, 2 R) and Martinez (2-for-2, R, 2 RBIs).
 
With her two-hit performance, Miller extended her hitting streak to nine straight.
 
Two other impact performances came from Catherwood, who was 1-for-3 with a run, a walk and a triple, and Byrd, who was 1-for-3 with three RBIs and a walk along with her home run.
 
Kaleena Downing had FIU's lone stolen base, and she was the one who reached base safely on the error that pushed across the game's third run.
 
Kruger (W, 8-1) picked up the win in her six-plus innings. She allowed seven hits, four runs and four walks while striking out four.
 
Vanderkous produced her first save of the season as she entered with the potential game-tying run in the on-deck circle. Kruger has the team's only other save this year.
 
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