MIAMI (Feb. 26, 2016) -- Trailing 5-1 in the fifth, FIU rallied for three runs, but left runners on in the sixth and seventh to fall one run short in their opening game of the Felsberg Invitational, 5-4 to visiting Siena Friday afternoon at Felsberg Field at the FIU Softball Stadium.

The loss drops FIU to 8-4 overall, while Siena improves to 4-3 on the season. 

The Panthers got the first lead of the game in the bottom of the first, when a base hit from freshman Jackie Schoff (Bredenton, Florida / Lakewood Ranch HS) got the inning started. After a sacrifice bunt moved her to second, junior Stephanie Texeira (Miami, Florida / Gulliver Prep) put FIU on the scoreboard with an RBI double RBI to center.

The Saints got single runs in the second, third and fourth, and plated two more on four hits in the fifth to take a 5-1 lead.

FIU collected four hits in the bottom of the fifth, all coming with two outs. Junior Ashley Leon (Miami, Florida / Auburn University) drove in the first run with an infield single , and a single and a walk later, junior outfielder Gabby Spallone (Miami, Florida / Palmetto HS) collected two RBI on a single to right center for the 5-4 margin.

The Panthers got baserunners on in the fifth and sixth, but could not score the tying run to extend the game.

The loss went to sophomore Rachel Dwyer (Tampa, Florida / Chamberlain HS). She is 2-1 after allowing eight hits and two walks for all five Saints runs in 4.1 innings. She struck out three.

Siena's Lauren Butts got the win (2-2). She also allowed eight hits and three walks in the complete game, fanning four batters.

Schoff and Kaitlyne Musa (Miami, Florida / West Minster Christian) tied for the game-high total of two hits for the Panthers. 

FIU takes on Central Connecticut in the nightcap on Friday to end day one of the Felsberg Invitational.

 
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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/.