BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The FIU softball team erased a 5-0 deficit with a five-run sixth inning before falling by a 9-5 margin in the opening matchup of a three-game conference set at Western Kentucky on Friday night.
The Panthers sixth-inning outburst was sparked by a three RBI double by
Venessa Gallegos, who finished the contest a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate with three RBI.
Brianna Hill drove in another run on a fielder's choice and
Brittany Phillips capped the scoring with a run-scoring single to left that deadlocked the score at 5-5.
Western Kentucky responded in the bottom half of the sixth with four runs to claim a 9-5 edge on the strength of `back-to-back home runs. Maddie Bowlds hit a three-run shot to center, before Randi Drinnon followed with a solo blast to right.
The Hilltoppers opened an early 5-0 advantage with a single run in the second and fourth and three in the third. WKU hit three solo homers in the third to account for the run total. In total, Western Kentucky tabbed five home runs in the win.
FIU senior
Kendahl Dunford (5-8) suffered the loss for the Panthers after allowing four runs, three of which were earned, two hits and a walk over a third of an inning.
Katie Gardner (6-2) picked up the win for WKU in relief after giving up just one hit and a walk over the final 1.1 innings.
Junior
Madison Lewis recorded a pair of hits and scored a run for the Panthers in the loss.
The defeat moves the Panthers' record to 15-18 overall and 1-6 in the conference loop. Western Kentucky improves to 23-7 on the season and 7-3 in league action.
UP NEXT: The Panthers (15-18, 1-6) continue the three-game weekend set at Western Kentucky on Saturday, April 2 in a 2 p.m. ET start from Bowling Green, Ky.
Saturday's matchup with Western Kentucky
can be viewed on the Hilltopper Sports Satellite Network - HERE
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