MIAMI (March 6, 2015) – The FIU softball team (15-8, 0-0 C-USA) opens its second bout in Conference USA this weekend, hosting the Marshall Thundering Herd from Felsberg Field at FIU Softball Stadium. Saturday's doubleheader begins at 4 p.m. ET, while Sunday's 1:02 p.m. ET first pitch will air nationally on FOX Sports. A complete channel listing for Sunday can be found here.
 
Stay Connected
For those unable to attend this weekend's series, FIUsports.com will be streaming FIU's doubleheader on Saturday. Sunday's game will not be streamed via FIUSports.com, as it will be airing nationally on FOX Sports.
 
Stream: Click here
Livestats: Gametracker and StatBroadcast
Twitter: Click here
SUNDAY CHANNEL LISTING: Click here
 
Catching Up
The Panthers closed out their non-conference slate with a 4-2 showing at the Felsberg Invitational over the weekend. Freshman Ashley Belans continued to impress on both sides of the ball, as she batted .525 with four doubles, two of which came Sunday versus Michigan State. Also making significant contributions was Ashley Leon, who, besides being stellar on the field with two unassisted double plays, batted .421 with eight hits and two RBI.
 
Sophomore Stephanie Texeira led the Panthers' offense again during the Felsberg Invitational, keeping it four-straight weekends that the first baseman has hit over .500. She posted a .571 average, accumulating 8 hits in 14 chances to go along with six walks and two intentional walks versus Michigan State. She went three-straight games with multiple hits, posting a weekend-high three hits versus Bethune-Cookman on Friday night. On Sunday, the sophomore went yard for her team-leading sixth time and for the third time in the first inning off a two-run shot well over the wall in center, giving FIU all the runs it would need versus Bethune-Cookman.
 
Junior Corinne Jenkins posted a 2-1 record over the weekend, including a 6-0 shutout victory over the Michigan State Spartans. For the weekend, she fanned 18 batters in 21.1 innings of work, accumulating three complete games.
 
Softball to Air Nationally on Sunday
The series finale between FIU and Marshall will air nationally, as FOX Sports will be broadcasting the game with Dave Barnett and Tracy Warren calling the action. A complete, nation-wide channel break-down can be found here.
 
Game Day Quick Hitters
FIU enters its second season in Conference USA by hosting the Marshall Thundering Herd. The Herd is 4-0 all-time versus the Panthers, including a series sweep of a then-stumbling FIU team last season in Huntington, W.V. This is the first time in series history the Marshall and FIU will square off in Miami.
 
This weekend's match-up will boast Morgan Zerkle and Stephanie Texeira, who are both ranked in the top three in Conference USA in batting average.
 
Double Down
Stephanie Texeira leads Conference USA in doubles with eight, while the Panthers have three players occupying the top four spots in the league, as both Gabby Spallone and Ashley Belans are tied for second with seven apiece.
 
Tunnel vision
FIU has been able to make adjustments quickly in 2015, as the team is 6-1 this season following a loss. The lone time the team dropped its next game following a loss was when FIU fell to Memphis on Feb. 15 after falling to Purdue to night prior. It's the only time the Panthers have lost consecutive games this season.
 
Hallett's First Hack
Those who have watched freshman Jessica Hallett in practice know the power she has in her swing. Just 10 at bats into her career with FIU, she took North Dakota deep for her first career home run. It was a two-run shot.
 
Some Numbers to Consider
02 – Gabby Spallone collected two, four-RBI games in Madeira Beach to lead FIU's offense with 10 RBI during the course of five games. Part of the Panthers' potent 3-4 combo, she and Texeira have a combined 41 RBI so far this season.
 
03 –Stephanie Texeira has hit three home runs this season that have come in the first inning on her first at bat of the game (Houston, McNeese State, Bethune-Cookman). Additionally, her first at bat of the 2015 campaign left the yard.
 
08 – Corinne Jenkins moved into the No. 8 spot for all-time strikeouts by an FIU pitcher following her eight-strikeout performance on Feb. 28 versus Bethune-Cookman, which also matched her season-high for strikeouts in a game. She currently has 239 K's in her career.
 
23 – Stephanie Texeira has reached base safely in all 23 games the Panthers have played this season, and has reached on a hit on 18 of those occasions. Dating back to last season, she has reached base safely in 55 of FIU's last 56 competitions.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 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/.