Kugelmann shines with no hitter against CCSU

Santiago Archieri/ Staff Writer

Freshman Megan Kugelmann stole the spotlight of the weekend by tossing her first collegiate career no-hitter in the midst of a six game weekend.

After a lone game on Thursday, Feb. 25, FIU softball concluded their 16 game home stand with the Felsberg Invitational this past weekend.

The Panthers went 3-2 in the tournament, which will mean an 11-5 record for FIU as they prepare to hit the road for the first time all season.

The weekend started early for the Panthers, with an exhibition game on Thursday against Central Connecticut State University.

FIU found themselves in an early hole, being down 4-0 in the fourth inning. However, FIU made their way to the scoreboard in the next three innings and had a 5-4 lead heading into the final inning of play.

CCSU were then able to bring in two runs, taking the lead and ultimately the game. The final score was 6-5 as FIU went into the weekend suffering their first loss of the season. Abby Summers (3-1) gave up her first loss of the season as a relief pitcher.

Stephanie Texeira batted in her 13th and 14th runs of the season in the loss.

The tournament officially got underway on Friday, Feb. 26, with Siena visiting the Panthers for the first game of the day.

FIU found themselves in an early deficit yet again. Siena held a 5-1 lead in the fifth inning, but not before the Panthers made a late game rally.

With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, FIU managed four hits, highlighted by a Texeira two run double. This surge gave the Panthers three more runs, but the final score would end at 5-4 with a Siena win.

This led to FIU’s biggest losing streak of the season at two. The Panthers left runners in scoring position stranded in the final two innings of play.

Rachel Dwyer (2-1) was penalized with the loss. Dwyer allowed eight hits and gave up two walks in her 4.1 innings of play. She also struck out three batters.

With no time to dwell, the Panthers had the second game of a doubleheader on Friday night against CCSU. After losing the previous day, it was a completely different story this time around

FIU cruised into a 10-1 win. Summers (4-1) got back in the winner’s column with no earned runs in 6 innings.

The score might tell a different score of how the game went, as it was tied 1-1 heading at into the fifth inning. A three run home run from Texeira started the rout and FIU went on to take a 7-1 lead. In the sixth inning, Texeira knocked another one out of the park, her seventh home run of the season.

The show was stolen the following day by Kugelmann. The freshman pitcher took the mound for another game against CCSU to start the action on Saturday.

Kugelmann started the day by hitting the first batter she faced, but the jitters were clearly gone when she sent away the next 12 batter she faced.

Kugelmann (2-0) struck out six and gave FIU an 8-0 victory. A.J Belans and Texeira both had 2 RBI’s in the win, which improved the Panthers to a 10-4 overall record.

The Panthers couldn’t keep up the pace in the second game of the double header as they matched their biggest loss of the season with a 7-1 defeat at the hands of Delaware.

Corrine Jenkins (1-2) had the loss, allowing seven hits in four innings.

FIU went down 4-0 in the fourth and had no signs of recovering. FIU was only able to scuffle five hits for the game, while Delaware managed ten.

The 7-1 loss matches the biggest loss for the Panthers since the season opener when the nationally ranked No.10 Florida State Seminoles ran away from the Panthers with a 7-1 victory in Felsberg field.

The final game of the tournament for FIU was against the Siena Saints. This would be the final game of the 16 game home stand for FIU.

Summers (5-1) had no problem with Siena, just allowing four hits all game. She started off strong, retiring the first nine batters she faced and throwing her third complete game of the season, leading to a 6-1 FIU win.

Ashley Leon and Deven Kennedy both led the Panther bats with two hits apiece with Aleima Lopez hitting a home run in the opening inning.

FIU finished their home stretch with an overall record of 11-5. They now travel to Gainesville for the UF invitational, opening up against Illinois State on Friday March 4.