EL PASO, TEXAS --- The FIU softball team sustained a 7-0 loss to UTEP on the road inside the Helen of Troy Softball Complex Friday afternoon as the Miners used four double plays to stifle the Panthers.
 
With the loss, FIU (29-16, 11-9) has slipped into fourth place in the Conference USA standings, just a half game behind Sam Houston (11-8). Jacksonville State and Middle Tennessee are also each 10-9, and depending on how action shakes out later today, the conference standings could become even tighter.
 
The Panthers struggled to get things going offensively on Friday, going down 1-2-3 in each of the first three innings.
 
In the fourth, Kendall Catherwood was hit by the pitch with one out, but she was erased on a double play the next at bat. Bailey Grossenbacher safely crossed first in the fifth inning on a throwing error, but she was also eliminated on a double play.
 
Natalie Burns broke up the no-hitter with a smooth single to right center leading off the sixth, but a third double play from UTEP in the next at bat ended that rally.
 
The Panthers put together their best rally in the seventh, producing singles from Kally Meredith, Paige Miller and Kennedy Byrd to load the bases with one out, but the game ended on a double play as UTEP fell one shy of matching their program record for most in a game.
 
Megan Kruger took the loss in the circle. She pitched well through four, allowing just one run, but the Miners pushed across five runs in the fifth to take control of the game.
 
Jewelie Vanderkous entered in relief in the fifth and went the rest of the way. She allowed two of the seven runs.
 
UTEP (18-24, 7-13) has now won three in a row after dropping five straight.
 
UP NEXT
The Panthers will conclude the three-game series on Saturday at 1 p.m.
 
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