Game Details
East Carolina 6, FIU 4
WP: Whitney Sanford (1-2)
LP: Megan Kugelmann (0-3)
Records: FIU 2-4, ECU 2-3
Sunday, February 11 | 1:45 p.m. | Miami | Felsberg Field at FIU Softball Stadium
 
The Basics

• Despite a season-high 10 hits, FIU softball allowed four runs in the seventh inning and lost its last game of the Felsberg Invitational, 6-4 to East Carolina Sunday.
• FIU is now 2-4 after the opening weekend, while ECU is 2-3.
• The Panthers got three hits each, both season-high totals, from the top two in the lineup. Junior center fielder and leadoff hitter Jackie Schoff (Bradenton, Florida / Lakewood Ranch HS) and junior left fielder Tatyana Forbes (Redmond, Washington) both had three hits and scored one runs. Schoff finished the weekend at .500 (9-for-18), with at least one hit in all six weekend games, and has an active nine-game hitting streak, including the three NCAA Regional games to end last season.
• The Panthers broke open a scoreless game in the bottom of the fourth , scoring all four runs on two doubles, two singles, an error and a wild pitch. With one out, freshman infielder Kayla Whitehead (Perris, California) shot a double to left center for her first collegiate hit. Two batters later, freshman catcher AnnMarie Cooker (Medford, New Jersey) also doubled for her first hit, to right, and drove in Whitehead for her first career RBI and Whitehead's first time crossing home in an FIU uniform. Schoff singled and Forbes drove in two with a single through the middle. Forbes advanced on an error and scored an unearned run on a wild pitch for FIU's last run of the day.
• In her first collegiate start, freshman Kendahl Dunford (Macomb, Michigan) tossed five scoreless innings, only getting into trouble in the sixth, when ECU was able to get two runs on her. Dunford struck out four and allowed four hits, with no walks.
• In the seventh, the Pirates scored four unearned runs on three errors, keyed by a three-run home run from Karlie Smith.
• The Panthers went in order in the bottom of the seventh against ECU reliever Whitney Sanford, who pitched three scoreless innings in relief of starter Erin Poepping. Sanford allowed three hits and one walk for her first win of the season (1-2).
• Junior Megan Kugelmann (Merritt Island, Florida / Cocoa Beach HS) was the hard-luck loser (0-3). She tossed 1.1 innings, giving up just two hits and four unearned runs.

 
Stat of the Game
Schoff led the Panthers with nine hits in 18 at bats, for a .500 batting average. She also tied with Forbes for the team-high in run scoring, with three.
 
From the Dugout
"I am not happy with our offense or our defense right now," said FIU Head Coach Gator Rebhan. "I think we are pitching well, but we are playing too tight. We have a quick turnaround and then go to Las Vegas and we need to just play better. I am hoping we can relax and just play."
 
Next up for FIU
The Panthers head to Las Vegas to play five games in the Marucci Desert Classic next weekend. The action begins with a game against Utah State at noon Eastern Friday.
 
For softball ticket information, contact the FIU Ticket Office at 305-FIU-GAME or log onto www.FIUSports.com.
 
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