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SB26G3WinDelawareRoad
6
Winner FIU FIU 19-5
2
Delaware DELAWARE 11-12
Winner
FIU FIU
19-5
6
Final
2
Delaware DELAWARE
11-12
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
FIU FIU 3 0 1 1 0 0 1 6 11 2
Delaware DELAWARE 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 1

W: Villazon, Meagan (5-0) L: Kylie Wilkerson (1-2)

Game Recap: Softball |

Softball Rides Villazon’s Impressive Pitching Performance to Series Finale Win over Delaware

The Panthers downed the Blue Hens 6-2 behind 8 K's and a complete game, two-hitter from Meagan Villazon

NEWARK, Del. — FIU's softball program notched its first Conference USA (CUSA) win on Sunday, defeating Delaware 6-2 on the road in the final game of its three-game series. 

The Panthers (19-5, 1-2 CUSA) plated three runs in the first and never looked back, riding a strong outing from Meagan Villazon (5-0) to claim the four-run victory over the Blue Hens (11-12, 2-1 CUSA). Villazon surrendered two first inning runs, but was dominant from there, setting down Delaware scoreless in the final six frames. She struck out a season-high eight batters and gave up just two hits for the complete game victory, her second of the season. 

Leah Clark delivered two triples on the offensive end, scoring twice. Janelle Martinez also had a solid day at the dish, going 3-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored. As a team, FIU racked up 11 hits, collecting double-digit hits for the second-straight game. Eight different Panther hitters had at least one hit in the contest. 

In the opening frame, Martinez started the scoring for FIU with a two-out RBI single up the middle. Paige Miller delivered the second clutch hit of the frame in the next at-bat, plating Martinez and Kennedy Byrd with an infield single to put the Panthers up 3-0 before the Blue Hens' first plate appearance. 

In the bottom of the first, Villazon allowed a two-out, two-RBI double to Delaware, but struck out the Blue Hens' final hitter in the frame to preserve a one-run lead for FIU. In the top of the third, Clark's one-out triple set the table for Byrd, who followed that with an RBI single to provide an insurance run for the Panthers, up 4-2 after three innings. FIU continued to tack on runs as Kally Meredith delivered another two-out RBI, this time in the fourth, to extend the lead to 5-2. 

The Blue Hens threatened to make a comeback in the sixth, getting two runners on with one out, but Villazon retired back-to-back pinch hitters for Delaware to escape any danger. In the top of the seventh, the Panthers scored one more after another Clark triple as she raced home on a wild pitch, of which was thrown on an attempt to intentionally walk Martinez. Villazon allowed one base runner to lead off the bottom of the seventh, but retired the next three Blue Hen hitters in order to finish off the win and an impressive performance for the freshman in her first-ever CUSA start. 

UP NEXT
The Panthers host UTEP for their first CUSA home series this upcoming weekend, March 13-15, at Baptist Health Stadium. 

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.

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