MIAMI – Senior pitcher Kendahl Dunford tossed 5.1 no-hit innings before finishing with a complete-game shutout in the FIU softball team's 1-0 victory over UAB in the final game of the three-game weekend series on Sunday afternoon.
 
Venessa Gallegos scored the lone run of the game for the Panthers to put them ahead 1-0 after two innings.  Gallegos singled and scored from third on an attempted steal of second by teammate Abigail Brown.
 
Dunford finally allowed UAB's first hit of the contest with one out in the sixth on an infield single by Bella Wiggins. 
 
The following two batters also reached to load the bases, but Dunford wiggled out of the jam by retiring the next two UAB hitters on groundouts to keep FIU ahead 1-0.
 
Dunford (5-4) also managed to shake free from trouble in the bottom of the seventh as she held the Blazers scoreless after the first two hitters reached safely on a single and an error.  She retired the next three hitters she faced to secure her fifth win of the season.
 
In going the distance for the complete-game shutout, Dunford allowed just three hits and struck out four, while issuing four walks over seven innings.
 
Sarah Cespedes (7-2) took the loss for UAB despite only allowing one run and four hits.  She fanned five Panthers.
 
Senior Kayla Whiteside recorded the game's only extra-base hit with a triple to right to lead off the bottom of the sixth.
 
The win improves the Panthers record to 15-12 overall and 1-2 in Conference USA action.  UAB slips to 14-10 and 2-1min league play following the loss.
 
 
UP NEXT:  The Panthers (15-12, 1-2) will open their first C-USA road series of the season on Friday, March 18 at Louisiana Tech. 
 
First pitch is slated for 7 p.m. ET in Ruston, La., for the opening game of the weekend set.
 
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