MIAMI (April 10, 2015) — The FIU softball team (26-17, 7-8 C-USA) faces first-time opponent UTEP this weekend, as the Panthers make the farthest trip between Conference USA schools, traveling to El Paso, Texas for a three-game series. In a clash between East and West division teams, FIU is riding high after winning six of its last eight games, including three-straight victories.
 
Stay Connected
Stay connected with the Panthers while in Texas by following all of this weekend's action via livestream and livestats. Fans are also encouraged to follow the action on Twitter.
 
Livestats: Game Tracker
Stream: Click here
Twitter: Click here
 
Last Time Out
- FIU swept a mid-week double header at North Florida on Wednesday, posting its second-straight come-from-behind victory and utilizing seventh inning magic for the second time in as many games. Down by two runs during its final trip to the plate, sophomore Stephanie Texeira delivered again with a two-RBI double. Junior Aleima Lopez gave FIU the game-winner on a single through the right side.
 
- The Panthers' offense exploded for 10 runs in the second game in Jacksonville, with sophomore Gabby Spallone delivering a career-high five RBI. She and senior Krystal Garcia went yard, giving both Panthers 12 career home runs, which ties them with Kayla Burri for 10th all-time at FIU. Also homering was Lopez, who's one home run shy of joining her teammates at the No. 10 spot.
 
- Junior Corinne Jenkins tossed her 12th-career shutout, as she allowed just two hits in the five-inning affair.
 
Tex. vs. the Nation
Stephanie Texeira finds herself in the nation's top 50 in five different categories, highlighted by her No. 8 ranking in on-base percentage (.607), which also first in Conference USA, in addition to having the 47th-best batting average in the country (.441), which is good for third in the league. She finds herself ranked eighth in walks, averaging just over one walk-per-game, the most in C-USA.
 
Double Down
Gabby Spallone leads Conference USA in doubles with 12, while the Panthers have three players occupying the top five spots in the league, as Texeira (10) and Ashley Belans (10) are tied for third.
 
In Good Company
Junior ace Corinne Jenkins picked up her 46th-career win on Wednesday over North Florida. With the victory, she's one win away from tying for third all-time in program history.

Record Watch
With a talented core for FIU, several players find themselves nearing single-season records, in addition to climbing the career charts at FIU. Some Panthers approaching milestone marks:
 
- Gabby Spallone's league-leading 13 doubles this season is the sixth-most in Panther softball history, and pins her just four shy of Ashley McClain's record 17 doubles in 2010.
 
- Corinne Jenkins has tossed five-straight victories, one shy of her personal-best of six, which was set last season. The program record is nine-straight games.
 
 
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/.