FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 7, 2017) -- FIU's three home run leaders all hit homers as the Panthers began their two-game Tuesday with a 14-0 win over Holy Cross in five innings at the FGCU Softball Complex in non-conference softball action. The Panthers improve to 16-6 with the victory, their third utilizing the run rule this season.
 
The Crusaders (2-4) were held to just four hits by the FIU pitching staff, with starter Megan Kugelmann (Merritt Island, Florida / Cocoa Beach HS) allowing just three hits in four innings. Kugelmann improved to 7-1 with the win, allowing just the three baserunners, with no walks or hit batters. She retired three batters in a row through the middle innings.
 
FIU scored four runs in the opening inning to get the game started, highlighted by a three-run homer to center from catcher Kasandra Castle (Lake Worth, Florida / Palm Beach Central HS) before an out was recorded in the frame. A throwing error brought home the fourth run of the inning.
 
A wild pitch and another throwing error scored two runs in the second before a bases-loaded two-RBI single from Sammi Green (Marietta, Georgia) and a Jessica Rivera (Miami, Florida / Gulliver Prep)  RBI single drove in three more in the fourth inning.
 
The fifth inning unleashed more offense for FIU. Junior Michaela Mills (Hastings, Minnesota) singled up the middle for her first hit of the season, later followed by a one-out homer down the right-field line by senior Stephanie Texeira (Miami, Florida / Gulliver Prep). After a second out was recorded, the Panthers got back-to-back singles ahead of a three-run homer by Rivera out to left for the game's final runs. Rivera leads the Panthers with five home for the season.
 
The loss went to Alexandra Held, who dropped to 2-1. In 4.1 innings, she allowed six hits and four walks. Seven of the nine runs charged to her were earned.
 
FIU will take on Ball State to complete the day.

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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/.