RUSTON, La. – For the second straight day, the FIU softball team jumped out to an early 2-0 advantage before coming up on the short end of a 4-2 decision on Saturday afternoon in the second game of a weekend series at Louisiana Tech.
 
Amanda Gonzalez hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth to break up a 2-2 tie with what would prove to be the eventual winning runs for the Lady Techsters.
 
The Panthers opened a 2-0 edge with a pair of runs in the top of the fourth.  Senior Kayla Whitehead launched her third homer of the season with a shot to right center to make the score 1-0, before Gabby Ruiz registered an RBI single to center which score Venessa Gallegos.
 
The lead was short lived as Louisiana Tech responded with two runs in the bottom of the fourth.  Sierra Sacco singled to drive home a run before a throwing error FIU's Ruiz on the same play pushed home another score to even the ledger.
 
Junior Alexys Lawson (4-6) was hit with the loss for the Panthers after allowing two runs and three hits over 2.2 innings of relief.  FIU starter Brooklynn LInneman went 3.1 innings while giving up two runs and eight hits.
 
Emma Hutchinson (5-4) notched the victory for the Lady Techsters with two innings of shutout relief.  She allowed two hits and walked one.  Audrey Pickett pitched a perfect seventh to record her first save of the season.
 
Gonzalez finished 4-for-4 at the dish for LTU with a homer, two RBI and a run scored.  Kate Cooper added a pair of hits for the Lady Techsters.
 
Whitehead and Ruiz each posted a pair of hits in the loss for the Panthers.  Whitehead homer was the lone extra base hit of the game for FIU.
 
The loss drops the Panthers record to 15-14 overall and 1-4 in Conference USA action.  Louisiana Tech improves to 17-12 and 2-3 in league play.
 
UP NEXT:  The Panthers (15-14, 1-4) and Lady Techsters will conclude their three-game weekend set on Sunday, March 20 in Ruston.  First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. ET.
 
Sunday's game can be seen on C-USA TV – CLICK HERE TO WATCH
 
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