MIAMI (Feb. 4, 2015) – The FIU softball team opens its 2015 campaign tomorrow, as the Panthers are slated to take on the Houston Cougars at 7 p.m. ET on Thursday as part of a six-game, four-day stint in Gulf Shores, Ala., for the Sand Dollar Classic.
OTHER OPPONENTSFIU will face three first-time opponents during its week in Gulf Shores, as the Panthers will see Eastern Kentucky, Houston Baptist and Lamar for the first time in series history. Additionally, it has been 12 and 13 years, respectively, since FIU has matched up against Alabama or Houston. The Panthers and McNeese played a pair in Lake Charles, La., last season. The Crimson Tide is currently ranked No. 3/4 in the national polls.
PRESEASON FAVORITEThe FIU softball team was voted among the leagues' 12 head coaches as the team to beat in 2015, along with UAB, with both schools receiving five first place votes apiece. It's the first time in over a decade that FIU has shared a least a share of the No. 1 spot in the league to enter the season and the highest ranking to start the season since the Panthers were selected to finish second in 2011 as Sun Belt Conference members. FIU's preseason rankings from the last five seasons are listed below:
Year Preseason Rank2011 2nd 2012 4th 2013 3rd 2014 6th*2015 1st** denotes seasons played in Conference USA
STREAKS TO WATCHBoth sophomore
Gabby Spallone and senior
Shelby Graves come into the 2015 season with six-game hitting streaks. Graves, who also is one of FIU's starting pitchers, matched her career-long in hitting streaks in the Panthers final game of 2014. A hit versus Houston would give the righty a new career-long, while Spallone's career-long is eight games.
PUTTING UP ZEROESOn the pitching side,
Shelby Graves has gone 14.1 consecutive scoreless innings since last surrendering a run. Her last run came April 18 at Marshall and has made appearances of 4.0, 3.1, 5.0 and 2.0 innings since that time. Her five-inning game was also her first career no-hitter, which occurred on May 3 at Southern Miss.
THE LIST KEEPS GROWINGIn just her second year of eligibility, sophomore
Stephanie Texeira has a long list of awards to her name. The 2014 NFCA First-Team All-South selection was voted to Conference USA's preseason all-conference team on Jan. 21.
P – Lexi Betancourt
P – Samantha Messer
P – Miranda Kramer
C – Jackie Kleinsmith
C – Mickey Bell
C – Dani Pugh
IF –
Stephanie Texeira IF – Shaelynn Braxton
IF – Dani Hoff
IF – Caitlin Attfield
IF – Megan Low
OF – Christina Martinez
OF – Kaelynn Greene
OF – Morgan Zerkle
OF – Ashley Eldridge
DP/UT – Spencer Ferrell
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Twitter (@FIUSoftball) and become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSoftball) for all the latest FIU Softball news. Follow all of FIU's 18 athletic teams on Google+ (FIU Athletics), Twitter (@FIUAthletics), Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSports), YouTube (FIUPanthers), and Instagram (FIUathletics)
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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports, and is a proud member of Conference USA. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and the FIU Football Stadium. About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. It is a public research university with colleges and schools that offers more than 180 bachelor's, master's and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU contributes $9.8 billion each year to the local economy. FIU is Worlds Ahead in finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded over 200,000 degrees and
