MIAMI (Feb. 20, 2016) -- FIU and Delaware got into a back-and-forth game, with the lead changing hands twice. A two-run homer by Delaware's Anna Steinmetz proved to be the difference in a 5-4 Blue Hens win over the Panthers in day two of the Panther Softball Invitational at Felsberg Field at the FIU Softball Stadium Saturday.
 
Delaware is now 2-2 for the weekend, while the loss stops FIU's six-game win streak. The Panthers are 6-2, with a game to play Saturday against Holy Cross.
 
The Blue Hens got on the board first with two runs in the top of the first on a walk, two singles and a fielder's choice. One of the two runs was earned against starting pitcher Corinne Jenkins (Sarasota, Florida / Riverview HS).
 
The Panthers responded with two in the bottom half to tie the game. With one out, freshman Jackie Schoff (Bradenton, Florida / Lakewood Ranch HS) singles through the middle and later stole second. She came home on a two-out RBI single through the right side from center fielder Gabby Spallone (Miami, Florida / Palmetto), followed by a single through the left side from catcher Aleima Lopez (Deltona, Florida / Deltona HS) and the game-tying RBI single by shortstop Ashley Belans (Hollywood, Florida / American Heritage).
 
FIU took its first lead of the day when Lopez and Belans scored on an RBI groundout from freshman Deven Kennedy (Montgomery, Alabama) and a single by right fielder Domonique Grossman (Miami, Florida / Georgia Southern University) for the go-ahead score.
 
Delaware wrested the lead back from the home team on a two-run homer from Anna Steinmetz. It was the first batter faced by FIU left-hander Hunter Scharf (Lake Worth, Florida / Grandview Prep). They were the last runs of the game.
 
FIU stranded 10 runners on base. Scharf took the loss (1-1) for the Panthers. She pitched the final three innings, allowing just the game-winning run on three hits and a walk, with two strikeouts. Jenkins lasted four innings, allowing seven hits and two earned runs. She struck out four and walked one in her no decision.
 
The win went to Delaware's Carolyn Szymanski got the win. She scattered nine hits and three walks, allowing four runs over her five innings of work. The save went to Kiersten Coffman. She held the Panthers without a hit in the final two innings. She gave up a pair of walks and struck out one batter.
 
The Panthers will take on the Crusaders in the Saturday nightcap.
 
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/.