Western Kentucky’s late-season struggles continued Sunday with an 8-4 loss to Florida International at Nick Denes Field.

The Panthers (25-25 overall, 14-12 Conference USA) secured a three-game series sweep of the Hilltoppers (21-29, 11-16) with the victory.

FIU led 8-0 going into the bottom of the ninth and withstood a four-run WKU rally. Luke Brown picked up three hits for the Tops, while Ray Zuberer III drove in a pair of runs.

WKU is 1-8 over its last nine games and 1-7 over its last eight C-USA contests. The nosedive has put the Toppers in danger of missing the Conference USA Tournament for a fourth straight year.

WKU is ninth in the 12-team league standings with its 11-16 record. Only the top eight teams in the final conference standings make the C-USA tourney May 23-27 in Biloxi, Miss.

WKU is one game behind Rice (23-27-2, 11-14-2) and Alabama-Birmingham (20-28, 12-15), who are tied for seventh.

The Hilltoppers wrap up their conference season with a three-game series at Florida Atlantic, starting Thursday.