BOWLING GREEN, Ky. -- In a doubleheader to open the crucial Conference USA series, WKU (23-20, 9-11 C-USA) put up impressive offensive numbers in the two contests, but the Hilltoppers would surrender late rallies to FIU (22-23, 9-11) to drop both games of the day, moving the two teams into a tie for eighth in the C-USA standings.
WKU jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the opener and later held a 6-2 advantage before the Panthers stormed back with six unanswered runs, including three in the eighth, to take Game 1. The Hilltoppers entered the ninth inning of the second game up a run and was a strike away from sealing it before FIU pushed a pair across to complete the late rally.