Written by Daniel Torres/Staff Writer
With both teams coming off of losses to Notre Dame and Lipscomb University, FIU and Western Kentucky University matched up for a C-USA opening double header. FIU entered the ball game with a 17-9 record compared to Western Kentucky’s 15-5.
In the first game, Western Kentucky was just dominant both offensively and defensively. Hilltoppers starting pitcher Kennedy Sullivan pitched a fantastic game and was a force to reckon with every time she stepped up to the plate driving in a couple of runs throughout the game. FIU struggled to get the bats going until late in the ballgame with two struggling innings from Sullivan.
Panthers rallied in those two innings and were able to get the game as close as 3-2. The offensive power from Western Kentucky was just too much to handle as they reeled in three runs off of FIU pitcher Megan Kugelmann. This would end the first game giving WKU the win 6-2.
In game two of this double header, the pitching duel between FIU’s Kendahl Dunford and WKU’s Shelby Nunn proved not to be as strong as the duel in game one.
For most of the game it was all defensive with most of the hits not even passing the infield. The Panthers best chance came in the bottom of the sixth inning with pinch runner Alexis Johns in scoring position at third base with two outs.
FIU could not buy a run as they flied out into the outfield to send the game into its final inning. The seventh inning was an utter nightmare for Dunford and the Panthers. WKU loaded the bases with zero outs and were able to drive in four runs. A depleted FIU side would step up to bat in the bottom of the seventh for one final chance but gave WKU an easy three outs to win the game 4-0.
With a game being played Sunday, March 17, at noon, WKU took the win over FIU 5-4 to complete the weekend sweep of the Panthers. FIU record falls to 17-12 on the season and 0-3 in the conference while WKU advances to a season 18-5 and 3-0 in the conference. Up next for FIU is a Tuesday, March 19, match-up vs Buffalo meanwhile WKU will face Eastern Kentucky on Wednesday, March 20.
Featured Image by Daniel Torres/PantherNOW
The post Softball drops conference double-header against Western Kentucky University appeared first on PantherNOW.