(Click here for game one recap.)

MIAMI (April 9, 2016) -- FIU softball produced nine hits, and five Panthers hitters came up with the bases loaded, but visiting No. 24 Florida Atlantic pitched its way out of trouble and completed a Saturday doubleheader sweep by winning game two, 3-2 on Felsberg Field at the FIU Softball Stadium in Conference USA action. The Panthers stranded 11 on base, had three runners thrown out at home plate and slipped to 21-19 on the year and 7-7 in conference play. The Owls improve to 32-7 overall, and are in first place in C-USA with a 9-2 record.
 
After falling 4-1 in the first contest, FIU scored first in the late game, plating an unearned run in the bottom of the second. Junior second baseman Ashley Leon (Miami, Florida / Auburn University) hit an infield single to drive in Dominique Grossman (Miami, Florida / Georgia Southern University), who reached on an infield error earlier in the frame.
 
The Owls got all three of their runs in the third on three hits and an error. The last run came with a runner on first and two outs as the batter bunted to the pitcher and coming all of the way around after the throwing miscue.
 
FIU cut the lead to a single run when freshman Jackie Schoff (Bradenton, Florida / Lakewood Ranch HS) singled in pinch runner Jessica Hallett (Phoenix, Arizona) with two outs in the sixth. The Panthers had the bases loaded with one out in the frame, but a force out at home and a deep flyout caught with the fielder crashing into the fence ended the threat.
 
FIU got the leadoff runner aboard in the seventh and bunted her to second, but the Owls sent in game-one winner and team pitching ace Kylee Hanson to get a strikeout and a popout to end the game.
 
FAU starter Amanda Wilson got the win to improve her record to 9-4. She allowed nine hits and a walk, striking out two. Hanson got her fourth save of the season.
 
FIU starter Megan Kugelmann (Merritt Island, Florida / Cocoa Beach HS) took the loss, despite allowing just one earned run. She also gave up nine hits and one walk, collecting one strikeout in her seventh complete game of the year.
 
The two teams will conclude the weekend series Sunday at 1 p.m.

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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/.