MIAMI – The FIU softball team had a runner on second in four consecutive innings before leaving a total of five runners on base in an 8-0 loss in five innings in the opener of a three-game Conference USA series at Western Kentucky on Friday night.
 
The Panthers had a leadoff double by Bailey Grossenbacher stranded in the second and came away without a run after Abigail Brown and Grossenbacher led off the fourth with consecutive singles.  FIU also saw back-to-back hitters reach to open the fifth before a double play snuffed out the scoring chance.
 
Western Kentucky (16-8-1, 3-1 CUSA) took the lead for good with a pair of runs in the first inning on a bases loaded walk and an RBI single by Randi Drinnon.  The inning was aided by a pair of hit batters by FIU starting hurler Alina Varga.
 
Drinnon increased the lead to 3-0 with a double in the third that scored Cheyanne Sales.  Drinnon sealed the win with a grand slam in a five-run fifth that also saw WKU score a final run on an RBI single by Brylee Hage.
 
Drinnon finished the game with three hits and six RBI for Western Kentucky.
 
Katie Gardner (7-4) earned the win for WKU after tossing a five-inning shutout and limiting the Panthers to four hits.  She struck out four and walked two.
 
FIU starter Varga (3-4) took the loss after allowing seven hits and five run over 4.1 innings.  She fanned three and walked two.
 
Grossenbacher finished with a pair of hits in the loss for the Panthers.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers (13-15, 1-3 CUSA) will play the middle game of the three-game set with the Hilltoppers (16-8-1, 3-1 CUSA) on Saturday, March 16 in a 2 p.m. ET start.
 
The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
 
TICKETS
For more information on FIU Softball season and individual tickets, including student ticketing, call 305-FIU-GAME or visit the FIU Athletics Online Ticket Office.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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