MIAMI – Overcoming an early Roadrunners lead, FIU (18-18, 5-7 C-USA) closed out UTSA softball (6-27, 2-7 C-USA) on Sunday at FIU Softball Stadium, completing the three-game sweep. The Roadrunners quickly went ahead in the first, but FIU's counterpunch kept the Panthers in front for the rest of the 7-1 UTSA loss.
For the third straight game in the series, UTSA landed the first blow. After junior Kat Ibarra walked and senior Marena Estell's single moved her to third, sophomore third baseman Camryn Robillard delivered her third sacrifice fly of the season to push UTSA up 1-0.
However, a series of miscues led FIU to tie the conference series finale in the home half, as Frankie Izard's stolen base attempt offered much more, with overthrows to second and third allowing her to cross the plate. Ella Whitney veered an RBI single into shallow right with bases loaded, and then the Panthers added two more on a groundout and a sac fly for the early 4-1 advantage.
After a tough first inning, freshman pitcher Reagan Smith settled in well for a couple of frames, only allowing one of the next seven batters to reach base. However, FIU capitalized on a fourth inning leadoff walk, as Makayla Navarro came home on an RBI fielder's choice, followed by Brooke McCann scoring on an errant pickoff throw to third.
Facing Jamie Gilbert in the fifth, the Panthers added just one more run. Meanwhile, FIU starter Megan Kruger (6-3) allowed a UTSA baserunner in five of seven innings, but closed out the complete game effort for the win. For UTSA, Smith (3-11) takes the loss on 4.0 innings of action.
Making the first strike for the Roadrunners, Estell finished 2-for-3 to lead UTSA at the plate. Freshman Caton Letbetter recorded her first career reached base and reached again on a quality contact to the wall ruled an error in the seventh. Sophomore Lindsey Davis recorded her first career hit on a fifth inning grounded single.
UTSA opens a four-game homestand on Tuesday with Houston Christian (14-20) coming to Roadrunner Field. A three-game Conference USA weekend series with Western Kentucky follows, starting on Thursday.
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