BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- WKU hit four home runs, two by Jordan Mauch, to power the Lady Toppers past FIU in game one of a Conference USA Saturday doubleheader, 10-2, in six innings. The Panthers slip to 17-13 overall, 3-1 in C-USA. WKU is 9-12, 1-0 in conference.
 
The Lady Toppers were able to push across two runs in the bottom of third. WKU got the bases loaded after an error and two singles with nobody out. A fielder's choice to third resulted in a dropped throw home for the first run and a two-out infield single scored the second run.
 
The Panthers got the two runs back in the top of the fourth, thanks to a WKU error in the frame. FIU started the inning with a single by Jackie Schoff (Bradenton, Florida / Lakewood Ranch), followed by a perfectly-placed bunt from Ashley Leon (Miami, Florida / Gulliver Prep / Auburn Univ.) to get Schoff to third for a pair of baserunners with no outs. After Leon stole second, a ground ball from Stephanie Texeira (Miami, Florida / Gulliver Prep) got past the shortstop to score both runs and tie the game.
 
WKU retook the lead in the fourth on a sacrifice fly that broke the tie and a three-run homer from Hannah Parker pushed the lead out to four runs, at 6-2. A leadoff homer in the fifth from Lexie Norfleet made the score 7-2.
 
The sixth featured two more homers, including a leadoff homer from Mauch. After a one-out walk, Bryce Holmgren homered to center to end the game in walkoff fashion.
 
WKU starter Kathryn Downing got the complete-game win, to improve to 4-1. Both runs charged to her were unearned. FIU starter Corinne Jenkins (Sarasota, Florida / Riverview HS) took the loss, dropping to 4-5. She was charged with three earned runs in 3.1 innings, allowing six hits and two walks, with one strikeout.
 
The Panthers and Lady Toppers will play a second game this afternoon.

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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports, and is a proud member of Conference USA. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and the FIU Football Stadium.
 
About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. It is a public research university with colleges and schools that offers more than 180 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU contributes $9.8 billion each year to the local economy. FIU is Worlds Ahead in finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded over 200,000 degrees and enrolls more than 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell, FIU@I-75, and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU also supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has over 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.