HUNTINGTON, W.V. (April 30, 2016) -- A grand slam in the fifth inning by Marshall's Madi Marshall, the first homer of her career, keyed a six-run fifth to end game one of a scheduled Saturday doubleheader, 8-0 over FIU, at Dot Hicks Field in Conference USA softball action. FIU drops to 25-25 overall, and 8-11 in C-USA action. The Thundering Herd is now 26-23, 10-9 in league games.
 

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Following over three hours of waiting out a rain storm after the game-one result, FIU and Marshall got through five innings in the second game before darkness set in and the nightcap was suspended. The game will resume Sunday morning at 10 a.m. before the regularly scheduled series finale.
 
In the second game, Texeira sent a 1-1 pitch out to right field with two outs in the third. The homer was her 13th of the season, setting a new personal-best for her after hitting 12 in 2014. For her career, it is home run number 32, just one away from tying the FIU career mark. Once the result becomes final, the home run will count in the stats.

 

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In game one, with the Herd leading 2-0 in the fifth, Marshall loaded the bases and scored on a hit batter before they collected four more runs on the homer. FIU then allowed a runner via an error, and saw the bases fill up after a walk and an infield bunt single. A second walk in the inning forced in the walk-off run.
 
The Herd got the first two runners on via bunt singles in the first. Two fielder's choice plays followed, the second one scoring a run before a Panthers' error allowed a second run in the first frame and a 2-0 lead.
 
FIU got the first two batters on base in both the first and second innings, but Marshall was equal to the task, stranding three and picking off another to keep a scoreless top line. FIU left four on base in total, tallying a single hit in the last three combined innings. One of those early hits was a leadoff double in the second by senior catcher Aleima Lopez (Deltona, Florida / Deltona HS). It was her eighth of the season and 31^st for her career. She is seventh all-time at FIU in that category.
 
FIU starter Corinne Jenkins (Sarasota, Florida / Riverview HS) took the loss, dropping to 6-9 for the season. She was charged with six runs, five of them earned, in the contest. She struck out three and walked one.
 
The Herd got the complete-game shutout from Jordan Dixon. She struck out three and allowed four hits and a walk in the victory. She improved her record to 21-17.
 
Game two is in jeopardy of playing today, as heavy rains have moved into Huntington as the game ended.

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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/.