FIU Softball came back from a 4-0 deficit to take a late lead, but two runs in the seventh by visiting Central Connecticut upended the host Panthers 6-5 at Felsberg Field at FIU Softball Stadium.

Tonight was the season-opening game for the Blue Devils, who begin 1-0. FIU drops to 8-3 on the season, heading into this weekend's home tournament.

The Blue Devils posted the game's first run in the opening inning of play. Alexis Debrosse doubled to lead off the inning, scoring on an Evie Rentzel double to left. CCSU plated three more runs in the third on three straight RBI from the middle of the batting order to take a 4-0 lead.

Things looked good for CCSU freshman starting pitcher Alex Casañes, making her collegiate debut. She held the Panthers scoreless until the third inning, when two singles put baserunners on for junior Stephanie Texeira (Miami, Florida / Gulliver Prep), who homered to right center to reel the score back to within one, at 4-3.

The Panthers tied the game with a run in the fourth after catcher Aleima Lopez (Deltona, Florida / Deltona HS) doubled to lead off the inning. Three batters and two outs later, second baseman Ashley Leon (Miami, Florida / Auburn University) singled to drive in pinch runner Dominique Grossman (Miami, Florida / Georgia Southern University) to level the game at four runs each.

FIU then took its first lead of the game in the fifth inning after two errors allowed a baserunner to second. Shortstop A.J. Belans (Hollywood, Florida / American Heritage HS) dropped a two-out single into left for her 12th RBI of the season and the lead.

The Panthers held that lead until the seventh, when three different pitchers were used , but a walk, a fielder's choice, a single and a hit batter drove in the tying run before a one-out RBI single drove in what proved to be the game-winning run with the bases loaded in the inning.

FIU went down in order in the bottom of the seventh with two deep flyouts.

Freshman Abby Summers (Weston, Missouri) suffered her first loss of the year in relief (3-1). She pitched to two batters without recording an out.

CCSU relief pitcher Emily Sargent got the win in relief of Casañes to start 1-0 this season.

Leon, Texeira and Belans had two hits each to lead the Panthers. Texeira's three RBI put her season total at 14, which leads the team.

FIU will play two games Friday in day one of the Felsberg Invitational, which starts at 11 a.m. between Siena and Delaware. The Panthers take on Siena at 4:30 p.m. and Central Connecticut again at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 for the day and available at the stadium entrance.
 
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/.