GAINESVILLE, Florida (February 18, 2017) -- Northwestern State plated three runs in the second inning and came away with a 4-1 victory over FIU softball in day two of the Aquafina Invitational, hosted by the University of Florida. The loss snapped a seven-game win streak by FIU, dropping the Panthers to 8-2.
 
This was the first game all season during which the Panthers never led in any inning.
 
The Demons put three runs on the board in the second inning to take command of the ballgame. The first two batters of the inning singled and a one-out walk was issued to load the bases. FIU starter Megan Kugelmann (Merritt Island, Florida / Cocoa Beach HS) got a ground ball which turned into an out at home, but a two-out triple to right center cleared the bases and was the difference in the game.
 
Both teams scored a run in the fifth. Kellye Kincannon hit a leadoff homer in the frame to give the Demons a 4-0 lead. The Panthers answered with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly by Julia Gilbert (Rialto, California) to close the gap back to three.
 
An error led to the Panthers' seventh-inning score. FIU left two on in the frame.
 
Sophomore Jackie Schoff (Bradenton, Florida / Lakewood Ranch HS) collected three hits and scored both Panthers runs in the ballgame.
 
Kugelmann took the loss, her first of the season (2-1). She gave up three runs in two innings on four hits and one walk. Freshman hurler Shannon Saile (Land O'Lakes, Florida / Land O'Lakes HS) tossed the last five innings, giving up one run on two hits and three walks. She struck out 10. Saile has 40 punchouts in 24 innings pitched in her first collegiate season.
 
FIU will take on host and top-ranked Florida to finish the weekend. First pitch is scheduled for 11:15 a.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/.