MIAMI — FIU's softball team swept South Dakota, defeating the Coyotes twice on Saturday, to continue its unblemished run at the FIU Classic.
The Panthers (17-3) scored 14 unanswered runs in the opener against USD to claim an 18-10 run-rule win in six innings. FIU then followed that with an efficient 4-1 win to close out Day Two at the FIU Classic behind a stellar performance from Kennedy Byrd, who homered and pitched a complete game. The Panthers are now 4-0 at their home tournament and will look to secure the Championship crown against Fordham on Sunday morning.
SOUTH DAKOTA (G1)
FIU trailed 5-1 early on to the visiting Coyotes of South Dakota after the first two USD at-bats. In the middle of the second inning, the game was officially placed under a delay due to lightning, of which lasted two hours and two minutes.
When the game resumed, the Panthers wasted little time, pushing across three second-inning runs. FIU had five hits in the bottom half of the second, highlighted by Riley Silvers' two-run single through the right side. Zamya McBurrows made the score 5-4 with an RBI single, bringing the Panthers within one after two.
South Dakota answered immediately with five runs in the top of the third to go up 10-4. In the bottom half, Kendall Catherwood provided an RBI single, making the score 10-5 South Dakota after three innings. Meagan Villazon (4-0) controlled the rest of the game from there in the circle, keeping the Coyotes off the board for the final three innings. Staring down a five-run deficit in the fifth, the Panthers exploded for a nine-run fifth, gaining a 14-10 advantage. FIU continued its hot hitting into the sixth, plating four runs to secure the 18-10 run-rule victory.
McBurrows led the offense with a 4-for-5 performance and four RBI. Janelle Martinez also had four hits, finishing with three RBI. Silvers got the start behind the dish and had two hits with a season-high five RBI.
SOUTH DAKOTA (G2)
Byrd (6-1) started in the nightcap and carried the Panthers to a 4-1 victory. Byrd hit a solo homer in the first to give FIU the lead and the Panthers then tacked on solo runs in third, fourth and sixth innings to provide insurance.
In total, Byrd pitched a full 7.0 innings and allowed just four hits, striking out one with just one earned run allowed on 91 pitches. Offensively, six different FIU players recorded one hit a piece and the Panthers struck out zero times in the game.
UP NEXT
The Panthers take on Fordham at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow, Sunday, March 1 in the FIU Classic Championship game.
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