MIAMI – The Sam Houston softball team could not recover from an early offensive boom as FIU captured game two of a Conference USA series 6-4 on Saturday at Feldberg Field. 

The loss evened the series at one game apiece after the Bearkats rallied from a three-run deficit to win the opener 4-3. Haleigh Carter had an RBI single as part of a four-run sixth inning which was capped with Jordan Peno's game-winning double that brought in the final two runs. 

The Panthers started game two hot once again, scoring six quick runs in the first inning. The Bearkats were able to stop the bleeding and hold the Panthers scoreless the remainder of the game. 

Like the series opener, Sam Houston began to chip a-way at the lead. The first run came in the third when Elia Hebel reached on a fielder's choice and was later able to score on a fielding error. 

A pair of singles by Hannah Scheaffer and Peno got Sam Houston cooking in the fourth. Ellie Grill cut FIU's advantage in half with a two-run single up the middle.  

The Kats looked like they might repeat game one's magic Saturday but could only manage one run on an RBI single in the seventh to fall short.  

Starting pitcher Mika Vento didn't make it out of the first inning for Sam Houston, allowing six runs on four hits in the loss. Abigail Young came in as relief, going 5 2/3 innings with five hits and no runs. 

The Bearkats will look to take the series Sunday in the finale set for at 12 p.m. CT.