BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Freshman Hanna Johanning blasted a three-run homer and senior Brittany Phillips tabbed a pair of hits, but it wasn't enough for the FIU softball team to avoid a 7-5 road setback at Western Kentucky on Saturday afternoon in the second contest of a three-game weekend set.
 
The Hilltoppers jumped ahead 7-0 with two runs in the third and four in the fourth before adding a single tally in the fifth.  Brylee Hage had a pair of run-scoring hits for WKU with an RBI double in the third and a single in the fourth that plated a run.
 
The Panthers tried to rally back with four runs in the fifth – with the key blow coming on Johanning's three-run jack – which also marked the first round tripper of her collegiate career.  Senior Venessa Gallegos added an RBI single in the fifth that plated Bailey Grossenbacher.
 
FIU put another run on the board in the sixth when a double by Phillips scored Abigail Brown to account for the final margin.
 
FIU starter Kendahl Dunford (5-9) was tagged with the loss after allowing six runs, five of which were earned and six hits over 3.2 innings of work.  She walked three and struck out two.
 
WKU starter Katie Gardner (7-2) picked up the win with five innings of work that saw her allow four hits and three runs while fanning four.
 
The loss marks FIU's seventh straight and drops the Panthers' record to 15-19 overall and 1-7 in the conference loop.  Western Kentucky improves to 24-7 on the season and 8-3 in league action.
 
UP NEXT:  The Panthers (15-19, 1-7) conclude the three-game weekend set at Western Kentucky on Sunday, April 3 in a 2 p.m. ET start from Bowling Green, Ky.
 
Sunday's matchup with Western Kentucky can be viewed on the Hilltopper Sports Satellite Network - HERE
 
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