MIAMI (March 16, 2019) – The FIU softball team dropped a pair of games to visiting WKU on Saturday, as the Panthers officially opened Conference USA play.
 
With the loss, FIU falls to 17-11 (0-2 C-USA) and WKU improves to 17-5 (2-0 C-USA). The Panthers will look to avoid the sweep on Sunday, as the two squads meet at Felsberg Field for a noon first pitch.
 
FIU's Megan Kugelmann took the loss in the first game Saturday, after the senior allowed six runs in seven innings pitched. Kendahl Dunford took the loss in the night cap, as she allowed four runs and also pitched seven innings. Kugelmann and Dunford each drop to 6-3 on the year.  
 
At the plate, Jackie Schoff earned three hits for the Panthers on Saturday as the senior went 3-for-7. Brianna Bahadue and Jessica Rivera earned FIU's only RBIs on the day.
 
FIU dropped the first game on Saturday, 6-2. Brianna Bahadue singled in FIU's first run in the fourth inning, before Jessica Rivera used a SAC fly to score another in the fifth inning. The Panthers had trimmed the deficit to just 3-2 entering the sixth inning, before the Hilltoppers scored three runs in the top half of the frame to extend their lead before taking the 6-2 decision.
 
The nightcap saw FIU and WKU play six scoreless innings before the Hilltoppers loaded the bases and strung together a pair of hits to score four runs. The Panthers couldn't respond in the bottom half of the seventh inning as FIU fell 4-0 to close out Saturday.

UP NEXT
After Sunday's noon series capper against WKU, the Panthers will host Buffalo on Tuesday, March 19 for a midweek doubleheader with the games slated for 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. ET.

SOCIAL MEDIA
Get all the latest information on the team by following @FIUSoftball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. General athletic news can also be found at @FIUSports on Facebook and @FIUAthletics on Twitter and Instagram.