GULF SHORES, Ala. (Feb. 7, 2015) – Despite a solid pitcher's duel through the first three innings, the FIU softball team (3-2) fell to the third-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, 11-2, on Saturday evening. The Panthers' seven hits posted are the most allowed by Alabama this season.
 
Senior Shelby Graves (0-2) got the start for the Panthers and pitched a gem through the first three innings, keeping Alabama off the scoreboard through three for only the second time this season. Sophomore Stephanie Texeira picked up her third multi-RBI game through five games following a 2-RBI single in the bottom of the fifth.
 
The Crimson Tide's Haylie McCleney led off the game with a bunt to the left side and was quickly tossed out trying to steal second for the first time in six attempts this season. Junior Aleima Lopez registered the 6-2 putout of McCleney, which stands as the first of caught stealing of Musa's young career. Alabama and FIU traded 1-2-3 showings in the first inning.
 
The Panthers' sound defense was able to erase a lead-off double for the Crimson Tide in the second inning. Sophomore Gabby Spallone chased down a hard-hit fly ball just a few feet sky of the wall for the first out. The Crimson Tide's five-hole batter hit a rocket back at Graves, who turned and went 1-5 on a putout at third, while sophomore Ashley Leon tagged second to eliminate the threat and keep the game scoreless after two.
 
Spallone registered FIU's first hit of the night to lead off the second inning and FIU looked to be threatening following a two-out hit by junior Dominique Grossman, but a 6-3 putout wiped the threat. After FIU picked up two quick outs to open the third, the one and two batters for the Crimson Tide tagged Graves for hits but she was able to jam Alabama's Danielle Richard to foul out to Leon.
 
Alabama struck for five runs off four hits in the fourth inning. Senior Krystal Garcia stayed with an outside pitch with and lofted it down the right field line with one out in the bottom of the frame, while Graves made it two Panthers on the base paths following a fielding error on Alabama's Leslie Jury.
 
A six-run fifth inning for Alabama extended its lead to 11-0. The Panthers tried to rally in the bottom of the fifth, as freshman Ashley Belans extended her young hitting streak with a single through the right side. Leon pushed her to third base and made it two in scoring position for the Panthers with one out. Texeira plated both runners off a single hit to the right side
 
FIU closes out its time at the Sand Dollar Invitation tomorrow when the Panthers face Houston Baptist at 11 a.m. ET.
 
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 offer 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 $8.9 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 enrolls more than 54,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell, FIU@I-75, and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU also supports artistic and cultural engagement through its three museums: the Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum, the Wolfsonian-FIU, and the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has over 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.