MIAMI (March 10, 2017) -- FIU softball took no time getting comfortable playing at home for the first time in 26 days, hitting two home runs in the first inning en route to an 8-0 defeat of Rutgers in five innings Friday at Felsberg Field at FIU Softball Stadium in non-conference action. The win went to sophomore Abby Summers (Weston, Missouri). Who tossed a two-hit shutout of the Scarlet Knights to give FIU four wins in a row and a record of 18-6 on the season. Rutgers falls to 3-13 on the year.
 
Following a walk and a fielder's choice with one out in the bottom of the first, junior catcher Kasandra Castle (Lake Worth, Florida / Palm Beach Central HS) tied for the team lead with her fifth home run of the season, a first-pitch blast to right for the 3-0 lead. After a fielding error allowed another baserunner for FIU, freshman shortstop Jessica Rivera (Miami, Florida / Gulliver Prep) retook the team lead with her sixth homer of the season, taking a 1-0 pitch out to left center and the 5-0 lead after one inning. 
 
FIU added a run in the second on a double down the left field line from Castle to score Ashley Leon (Miami, Florida / Gulliver Prep), after she reached via an error and stole second.
 
A two-run fourth capped off the scoring for FIU. Redshirt senior Dani Mowry (Cocoa, Florida / Space Coast HS) lifted a sacrifice fly to the fence in left and Leon later stole home.
 
Summers improved to 6-0 in the near perfect outing. She allowed a bunt single in the fourth and an infield chopper in the fifth to hold the Scarlet Knights to just two hits. Those were her only two baserunners. She struck out six. 
 
The Panthers play Fordham at home to finish Friday's pair of games.
                            

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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/.